SATA to IDE HDD problem

[fela96]

Hi, so i have a really old IDE HDD (Samsung SP0411N 40GB) which i need to see in windows explorer to copy some files. I'm using a Bidirectional IDE/SATA adapter (like this one https://matrixwarehouse.co.za/2718-large_default/ide-to-sata-converter.jpg) and im having trouble to see it in Windows Explorer. I've already plugged all cables, the led indiicates de little board is working, the HDD is visible in BIOS, but when it comes to Windows 10 i cant see it anywhere. Nor in My PC, Device Manager, or Disk Management. Could it be that my BIOS is set to AHCI instead of IDE??

I also tried to put the HDD as slave but in that case BIOS didnt recognize it, it will only appear if it's in Master mode. (I tried both set ups, the general and the 32GB clip: http://support-us.samsung.com/cyber/popup/iframe/pop_troubleshooting_fr.jsp?modelname=SP0411N&idx=42515&modelcode=& )

Please help me, any income is appreciated

EDIT: Actually, i have already backed up the disk, i've just noticed, but i dont how i did it. But still i have to format the drive, is there a way to do that without Windows recognizing it?

 

[USAFRet]

How are you powering the drive?
That adapter board does not provide that.

 

[fela96]

How are you powering the drive?
That adapter board does not provide that.

Via a 4-pin molex from PSU.
I can confirm the disk is spinning.

 

[photonboy]

1) FORMAT THE DRIVE???
I'm confused, is Windows asking you to format the old PATA/IDE drive?

If so that will wipe out your ability to access the data on the drive. You don't want to do that.

2) But then what do you mean by you already backup up the drive?

3) I've had varying success with these PATA to SATA adapters. Just because you see an LED and BIOS detects the drive doesn't mean it's working properly.

4) AHCI?
I'm not an expert but I thought if the BIOS detected the drive that Windows should too if things were working properly. Also, I think it would be detected as a SATA device anyway and the adapter should just handle the conversion so I don't think it appears as "IDE" to the motherboard.

 

[photonboy]

(off topic but for some reason everybody just calls "PATA" as "IDE" so they say things like "IDE-to-SATA adapter" which actually makes no sense. The term IDE means "Integrated Drive Electronics" which stems from when the separate physical platters were joined with the electronic controller mechanism.

Every HDD for years has been "IDE" with the only change being the connection which changed from parallel/PATA to serial/SATA.

There's a similar thing that bugs me when people say "x64 vs x86" which makes no sense either. One means 64-bit and the other the architecture. Windows CPU's (aside from mobile ARM) are all x86 architecture and 32-bit x86 hasn't been around for a long time. Technically it is x86_32 vs x86_64 or similar as in x86 architecture 32-bit or x86 architecture 64-bit).

*as for the above IDE-to-SATA advice I know I didn't likely help. I suspect it's just the adapter itself doesn't work or it doesn't interact well with modern motherboards. Seems to be pretty hit-and-miss with these adapters.

**Also, check the DEVICE MANAGER. If there's a driver needed you probably have an unrecognized device there. If so maybe see if there's some driver for that adapter.

 

[fela96]

1) FORMAT THE DRIVE???
I'm confused, is Windows asking you to format the old PATA/IDE drive?

If so that will wipe out your ability to access the data on the drive. You don't want to do that.

2) But then what do you mean by you already backup up the drive?

3) I've had varying success with these PATA to SATA adapters. Just because you see an LED and BIOS detects the drive doesn't mean it's working properly.

4) AHCI?
I'm not an expert but I thought if the BIOS detected the drive that Windows should too if things were working properly. Also, I think it would be detected as a SATA device anyway and the adapter should just handle the conversion so I don't think it appears as "IDE" to the motherboard.

No, Windows isn't asking me to format the drive. I want to format it because i have already backed up (dont know how) the drive. I'm giving it away so i dont want the hdd to have my personal files.

 

[USAFRet]

EDIT: Actually, i have already backed up the disk, i've just noticed, but i dont how i did it. But still i have to format the drive, is there a way to do that without Windows recognizing it?

So how did you copy the files from it?

 

[fela96]

(off topic but for some reason everybody just calls "PATA" as "IDE" so they say things like "IDE-to-SATA adapter" which actually makes no sense. The term IDE means "Integrated Drive Electronics" which stems from when the separate physical platters were joined with the electronic controller mechanism.

Every HDD for years has been "IDE" with the only change being the connection which changed from parallel/PATA to serial/SATA.

There's a similar thing that bugs me when people say "x64 vs x86" which makes no sense either. One means 64-bit and the other the architecture. Windows CPU's (aside from mobile ARM) are all x86 architecture and 32-bit x86 hasn't been around for a long time. Technically it is x86_32 vs x86_64 or similar as in x86 architecture 32-bit or x86 architecture 64-bit).

*as for the above IDE-to-SATA advice I know I didn't likely help. I suspect it's just the adapter itself doesn't work or it doesn't interact well with modern motherboards. Seems to be pretty hit-and-miss with these adapters.

**Also, check the DEVICE MANAGER. If there's a driver needed you probably have an unrecognized device there. If so maybe see if there's some driver for that adapter.

Update: I went afk for like an hour and suddenly the Disk Management windows recognized the HDD in matter, but it showed as Unocallated space, and asked me to choose between MBR or GPT. Also now it's appearing in Device Manager.
Tried to initalized the disk but it threw me an error "The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error".

 

[fela96]

EDIT: Actually, i have already backed up the disk, i've just noticed, but i dont how i did it. But still i have to format the drive, is there a way to do that without Windows recognizing it?

So how did you copy the files from it?

I think i did it in another computer that i dont have anymore.

 

[USAFRet]

This sounds like a faulty interface device.

 

[fela96]

This sounds like a faulty interface device.

what do you mean by that?

 

[USAFRet]

This sounds like a faulty interface device.

what do you mean by that?

Your "Bidirectional IDE/SATA adapter".
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

 

[fela96]

This sounds like a faulty interface device.

what do you mean by that?

Your "Bidirectional IDE/SATA adapter".
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Yeah that should be the problem, this adapters are the most untrusted things in the world. Anyway, thanks for the input!

 

[photonboy]

*If you want to completely get rid of files you should do a full WIPE (i.e. write zeros) because data can always be reconstructed if you simply format
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

I've used Active KillDisk before, but if a BOOT method doesn't work you can try HDDLLF Free
http://hddguru.com/

*I use HDDLLF frequently to wipe drives. It works on SSD's and HDD's but I also use it on USB THUMB DRIVES because for some reason when I make bootable USB sticks I can't format them after unless I wipe (the quick wipe in this case fixes the issue).

If anybody knows what I'm doing wrong please PM me.

**Be careful to not accidentally wipe OTHER drives if you use a tool like this.