Problems with eSATA

[roberthop1980]

Ok guys. Let me start by saying that I am NOT an IT novice. I have worked professionally on computers for a number of years.

That being said, I admittedly do not have a great deal of experience with eSATA. Recently, I decided that I was going to add eSATA for my Gateway desktop (don't know exact model all I remember is that it has an i3 Win 10 EDU for the OS, I will look up exact model when I get home) as I was really tired of having to dismantle the machine or leave the side off to swap HDD's every half hour or so.

So I purchased the following items off of Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-107638-Internal-eSATA-Bracket/dp/B005E2Y3DE?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00 and http://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Pack-Gbps-eSATA/dp/B00V6QA6J2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01

I was going to supply power with a PS that I've had for a while with a Molex connector, and using a Molex to SATA adapter.

Right after I installed the eSATA plate and hooked it up to my motherboard I started having massive problems, mainly it would no longer boot into OS. I've got that problem resolved, however, when I attempt to connect any devices to either eSATA connection they do not show up at all. I have tried everything that I can think of and I'm out of ideas. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ArtPog]

"I was going to supply power..." (to the HDDs presumably)? Is that what you've been doing?

So what happens if you install the HDD(s) internally in the PC? No problems with the boot/functioning? And if so, this also occurs if you utilize that auxiliary PSU to provide power to the HDD(s) rather than the PC's internal PSU?

Just out of curiosity... why is there a need "to leave the side off (the case) to swap HDD's every half hour or so"?

 

[scout_03]

that external drive why you dont put it in a case that have it's own power like this http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817366019

 

[hang-the-9]

Try the case above ^ . The cable you got looks to be made for connecting the SATA directly to the motherboard and then the eSATA connection to an eSATA device, not going the other way like you are.

 

[roberthop1980]

"I was going to supply power..." (to the HDDs presumably)? Is that what you've been doing?

So what happens if you install the HDD(s) internally in the PC? No problems with the boot/functioning? And if so, this also occurs if you utilize that auxiliary PSU to provide power to the HDD(s) rather than the PC's internal PSU?

Just out of curiosity... why is there a need "to leave the side off (the case) to swap HDD's every half hour or so"?

The reason for the HDD swaps os because I use this pc as my backup machine for computers that I am repairing.

I know it is not the PSU because it works fine when I use it to power one of the internal HDD'S. I know it is not the hard drive because it will boot, and test fine, when run off of an internal connector.

 

[roberthop1980]

Hang-the-9 I will try that and see what happens. Thanks everyone.

 

[ArtPog]

"I was going to supply power..." (to the HDDs presumably)? Is that what you've been doing?

So what happens if you install the HDD(s) internally in the PC? No problems with the boot/functioning? And if so, this also occurs if you utilize that auxiliary PSU to provide power to the HDD(s) rather than the PC's internal PSU?

Just out of curiosity... why is there a need "to leave the side off (the case) to swap HDD's every half hour or so"?

The reason for the HDD swaps os because I use this pc as my backup machine for computers that I am repairing.

I know it is not the PSU because it works fine when I use it to power one of the internal HDD'S. I know it is not the hard drive because it will boot, and test fine, when run off of an internal connector.

I assume you've checked the eSATA adapter device and determined the problem doesn't lie there. While we rarely work with eSATA devices any more I do recall that from time-to-time in the past we did encounter more than one defective eSATA adapter.

Since your primary objective seems to be working with removable HDDs have you given consideration to installing at least one mobile rack to house a removable HDD in a vacant 5 1/4" external bay of your desktop PC? I'm assuming, of course, your case contains one or more vacant 5 1/4" external bays that you could utilize for this purpose.

If this is feasible it seems to me it's a much more simple/straightforward way for you to work with a multitude of HDDs for testing/diagnostic purposes rather than this rather awkward & cumbersome eSATA configuration.

We equip virtually every desktop PC we build with one or more external mobile racks to house removable HDD/SSDs. The rack we've been using for a number of years now is this one...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817995104

Take a look at it and see if it can better serve your needs.

 

[roberthop1980]

"I was going to supply power..." (to the HDDs presumably)? Is that what you've been doing?

So what happens if you install the HDD(s) internally in the PC? No problems with the boot/functioning? And if so, this also occurs if you utilize that auxiliary PSU to provide power to the HDD(s) rather than the PC's internal PSU?

Just out of curiosity... why is there a need "to leave the side off (the case) to swap HDD's every half hour or so"?

The reason for the HDD swaps os because I use this pc as my backup machine for computers that I am repairing.

I know it is not the PSU because it works fine when I use it to power one of the internal HDD'S. I know it is not the hard drive because it will boot, and test fine, when run off of an internal connector.

I assume you've checked the eSATA adapter device and determined the problem doesn't lie there. While we rarely work with eSATA devices any more I do recall that from time-to-time in the past we did encounter more than one defective eSATA adapter.

Since your primary objective seems to be working with removable HDDs have you given consideration to installing at least one mobile rack to house a removable HDD in a vacant 5 1/4" external bay of your desktop PC? I'm assuming, of course, your case contains one or more vacant 5 1/4" external bays that you could utilize for this purpose.

If this is feasible it seems to me it's a much more simple/straightforward way for you to work with a multitude of HDDs for testing/diagnostic purposes rather than this rather awkward & cumbersome eSATA configuration.

We equip virtually every desktop PC we build with one or more external mobile racks to house removable HDD/SSDs. The rack we've been using for a number of years now is this one...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817995104

Take a look at it and see if it can better serve your needs.

I would love to do that unfortunately I only have two bays on this machine and they are both occupied by optical drives. I think I will probably bute the bullet and just buy an enclosure. Thanks again for the replies.