Is there any way to connect a PATA drive to a SATA-only motherboard?

thetortuga747

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Aug 31, 2014
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Hello, all.

My friend has recently upgraded to a new hard drive, CPU, and motherboard, but wishes to transfer his old Windows installation to the new drive. However, his original HD is a PATA drive, and not compatible with the motherboard he purchased. Is there an adapter cable that could be used to connect the older, PATA drive to the new SATA motherboard in order to transfer the files? I have found plenty that do the opposite, that is, connect a SATA hard drive to a PATA motherboard.

Thanks.
 
Solution
+1 above answer. Use a USB attach. Another approach if you need to keep the old drive is to buy an adapter card that has pata ports: https://www.amazon.com/Syba-ATA133-eSATA-Components-SD-PEX50049/dp/B00965J5TW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1466805826&sr=8-2&keywords=pci+pata+adapter

To transfer Windows:

If this is an OEM copy of win7 and prior don't bother. Windows will not have the MB drivers you need, and there is no way I know of to get them onto your version of windows.

If you have a retail copy of windows then
1. Use the USB attach suggested above
2. CLONE the drive with software from the drive manufacturer. I like to use WD software becuase it's Acronis under the covers, and does a good job of resizing the disk. But all...


This needs to be a full reinstall (not a transfer or clone), and probably a new OS purchase.
What OS is it, and where did it come from?
 
+1 above answer. Use a USB attach. Another approach if you need to keep the old drive is to buy an adapter card that has pata ports: https://www.amazon.com/Syba-ATA133-eSATA-Components-SD-PEX50049/dp/B00965J5TW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1466805826&sr=8-2&keywords=pci+pata+adapter

To transfer Windows:

If this is an OEM copy of win7 and prior don't bother. Windows will not have the MB drivers you need, and there is no way I know of to get them onto your version of windows.

If you have a retail copy of windows then
1. Use the USB attach suggested above
2. CLONE the drive with software from the drive manufacturer. I like to use WD software becuase it's Acronis under the covers, and does a good job of resizing the disk. But all the major disk makers have cloning tools for free on their sites. If ANY disk in the system is their brand then the tool works.
3. Do a repair install of windows using the retail install disk. It'll load enough of the right drivers to get you started, then dowload you MB's most current drivers from the MB website (chipset, audio, network, etc. Whatever they have.)

GL.
 
Solution


The only difference between a Retail license and an OEM license is the license.
Has nothing to do with actual install or operation.

With either...this needs to be a full reinstall.
The only thing a Retail license gets you is not having to buy a new OS license for this new hardware.
 


Umm, The retail licence gives you access to a windows install disk that has all the necessary drivers. You only get a subset with OEM disk. Here's the steps from Microsoft:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/repairing-windows-after-motherboard-change/ebcb379b-a7b4-433a-b872-475a934d6b04?auth=1