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November 18th, 2017 08:00

What connects this old hard disc to a modern USB port? What do I search for on ebay?

I've read that the hard disc from my broken Dell Dimension 8300 can be read from a working computer, given the right connector or a caddy with the connectors bullt-in. I could plug it into the USB port,

The old power supply still works, so a data connection alone would be enough to help me copy the disc.

It might be too old to have any connectors still made to fit it - first attempts failed. Does anyone know what I should search for on the Dell site or ebay?

Here's a photo of the old connection socket. It is 20 x 2 pins with one missing.



















9 Legend

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87.5K Posts

November 18th, 2017 12:00

The connector is standard EIDE - 40 pin sockets and will work.  The "missing" pin on an EIDE connector on the drive is there so that the cable can't be connected incorrectly.

4 Operator

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1.2K Posts

November 18th, 2017 15:00

www.walmart.com/.../49645282

another one. This one has with a power adapter. I've had a couple of these, but they got loaned out to family members and never returned.

edit: it is only USB 2.0, but good enough for one-time copies of old stuff.

9 Legend

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87.5K Posts

November 18th, 2017 09:00

Something like this will do the job.

www.newegg.com/.../Product.aspx

November 18th, 2017 10:00

Thanks for reply!. If sellers of converter cables photographed each end, we'd know for sure but by the look of it it doesn't connect to a 39-pin port so I am still searching

November 19th, 2017 02:00

Thanks both!

"IDE to USB" was a good search on ebay.co.uk. It brings-up a load of similar flexes from China for about £2 or £3. I got carried-away and searched-out a power supply and 3.5" caddy as well. The new ones are about £17 upwards in the UK,

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