USB HDD to SATA

[wavey]

Found a link in another forum to this article about USB only drives still having SATA built in. It's from 5 years ago, but I didn't know about it, did you?
http://www.datarecoverytools.co.uk/...-western-digital-drives-with-hd-doctor-suite/

 

[Markverhyden]

Yes, I've seen them a few times when I've looked at data recovery. The ones I've looked at were the laptop size, external drives. When you crack the case there is just the drive with it's onboard PCA. Standard micro USB connector. Rather than having a regular SATA PCA with a separate USB to SATA bridge it's all rolled into one PCA.

I think that is the standard for those types of WD drives these days. The Seagate's I've got still have a separate USB to SATA bridge.

 

[wavey]

I'm sure it saves a few pence in production, and pennies make pounds, as my Dad used to say.

 

[wavey]

I have swapped out damaged USB connectors but don't ever see myself doing the conversion in the article.

A bit 'specialist' for me.

 

[Markverhyden]

Agreed. I'm a pretty adventuresome person when it comes to fiddling around with things. But so much of this stuff these days has "microscopic" solder points I take a pass on things like that. Unless there are no other options.