Broken external HDD

[World Domination]

I have a 500GB Western Digital My Book USB external HDD and the USB port on the drive broke. I was hoping I could just open it up and hook the HDD up like an internal HDD, but it has a connector that I'm unsure of what it is.

Is it possible to connect this to a computer to get the files off of it?

Picture:

 

[roll the dice]

Okay first of all be very carefull with harddrives unless they are SSD's but yours isnt so we wont worry about it.

a hard drive has moving parts that all need to be in sync and if you bump it too hard loosen the wrong screws of drop it your fucked itll break.

Also you can just take aapart a harddrive simply because any air or dust or anything in there fucks it. basicly what i recomend is if you have any idea how to solder figure out which pic went to wich pin and how they crossed over ect ect if you can or preferrably tak it to your local it shop and get it fixed but its only a wd 500gd pb so id just go buy a new one its only a few hundred.

 

[World Domination]

Would like some real help please...

 

[kill dank]

ROLLS post was idiotic...
NEVER open a hard drive that you would like to use in the future, there is a chance it will not work again.
I can throw a mechanical hard drive at the ground and it will still work... I have done it before.
and a 500gb WD drive is not a few hundred, it's like $40-$60.
Also, you don't need to solder anything


ANYWAY, to answer your question, that is a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, known as SATA.

It is the predecessor to EIDE drives and the standard for newer computers.

You CAN plug it into your computer and use it as an internal HD granted your motherboard has SATA ports. You will need a SATA cable to connect to the mobo.

And possibly an adapter if your PSU doesn't have them by default.

IF on the off chance your motherboard is pre-2005 and doesn't support SATA, and you want to make the drive internal, you can use a SATA to IDE adapter. That would look something like this...

If your motherboard doesn't support SATA and you would like to use your SATA drive externally, You can purchase an adapter that will allow you to use it as a USB drive, like a flash drive.

That setup looks like this. It is self explanatory where the cables plug in.

So YES, you can connect it to a computer to get files off of it, and it is a SATA hard drive. If you need any more help, feel free to ask.

 

[World Domination]

ROLLS post was idiotic...
NEVER open a hard drive that you would like to use in the future, there is a chance it will not work again.
I can throw a mechanical hard drive at the ground and it will still work... I have done it before.
and a 500gb WD drive is not a few hundred, it's like $40-$60.
Also, you don't need to solder anything


ANYWAY, to answer your question, that is a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, known as SATA.

It is the predecessor to EIDE drives and the standard for newer computers.

You CAN plug it into your computer and use it as an internal HD granted your motherboard has SATA ports. You will need a SATA cable to connect to the mobo.

And possibly an adapter if your PSU doesn't have them by default.

IF on the off chance your motherboard is pre-2005 and doesn't support SATA, and you want to make the drive internal, you can use a SATA to IDE adapter. That would look something like this...

If your motherboard doesn't support SATA and you would like to use your SATA drive externally, You can purchase an adapter that will allow you to use it as a USB drive, like a flash drive.

That setup looks like this. It is self explanatory where the cables plug in.

So YES, you can connect it to a computer to get files off of it, and it is a SATA hard drive. If you need any more help, feel free to ask.

Thanks man, that really helped. I just want to connect it to my computer to get files off of it. I'll check out my motherboard and what not tomorrow and see if it supports SATA.

My second option was: Ordering one just like the one I have, and swapping the chipset the USB is attached to, and then getting the files off it that way, and then putting the "new" one back together and sending it back.

 

[kill dank]

Thanks man, that really helped. I just want to connect it to my computer to get files off of it. I'll check out my motherboard and what not tomorrow and see if it supports SATA.

My second option was: Ordering one just like the one I have, and swapping the chipset the USB is attached to, and then getting the files off it that way, and then putting the "new" one back together and sending it back.

To be honest, I wouldn't go through the trouble. You can pick up the IDE/SATA to USB adapter I posted a picture of for about $10-$15 and use it on any hard drive to make it an external. Not to mention that a lot of places won't accept a return or refund if you open up the equipment. Better not take the chance.

Your best option for using it internally is to just pick up the SATA cables if your mobo is compatible. The SATA port on the mobo will look something like this, but most likely a different color.

 

[World Domination]

To be honest, I wouldn't go through the trouble. You can pick up the IDE/SATA to USB adapter I posted a picture of for about $10-$15 and use it on any hard drive to make it an external. Not to mention that a lot of places won't accept a return or refund if you open up the equipment. Better not take the chance.

Your best option for using it internally is to just pick up the SATA cables if your mobo is compatible. The SATA port on the mobo will look something like this, but most likely a different color.

Alright thanks for your input, I'll check my motherboard tomorrow.

If all else fails, I won't really lose much. This external was mostly just random pointless pictures and a ton of ripped DVDs. All pretty replaceable, just time consuming.