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Disk Fits

What to do if your 2.5" IDE (or ATA) Hard Disk won't connect to a standard IDE Disk Caddy

If you've taken the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) out of your laptop and you're looking to recover some data from it or to reformat it and use it in a USB Disk Caddy as a back up unit but it won't fit what options do you have?

There are normally two reasons why a standard IDE/ATA Hard Disk will not fit or connect to a standard USB Disk Enclosure designed to take these hard drives:

1. The Hard Disk is a 12mm thick version and not the regular 9.5mm thick size. Some older Hard Disks were manufactured just a little bit "fatter" than the normal standard and because of this the HDD's will not fit inside the HDD Disk Case. Because you can't have the HDD rattling around inside the case they are specifically machined to only work with 9.5mm HDD's. If you have got one of the older/thicker 12mm versions then your only option is to use a Cable Kit like out VE225 product..

   These are fine and will recover the data from the HDD and they do allow you to use the HDD to store data etc. but because they don't provide a protective and neat case around the HDD they are not ideal for on-going usage

2. The Hard Disk Drive has been fitted with a "sheath" by the laptop manufacturer. This sheath fits over the standard IDE/ATA Pin Interface and needs to be removed before the HDD can be used with any USB Disk Enclosure. Removal is normally pretty straightforward and done in a matter of seconds.

   As far as we are aware the "sheaths" put over the end of the HDD by some laptop manufactures were used simply to make the assembly of the laptops a little easier. Once removed the usual IDE interface is visible and you'll then be able to use the Hard Disk in any standard 2.5" Laptop Hard Drive Case

Check out the wide range of USB Hard Drive Enclosures at USBNow

About the Author

Phil Battison

How do I fit a 6 gig disk image on a 4 gig blank dvd?

I have the dmg file for snow leopard but the only way to install it is to burn the disk image onto a blank dvd but the problem is i dont have any blank dvd's big enough to fit the 6 gig OS....

Woah that sucks. Get a dual layer dvd and burn it or just get a smaller version of it because im guessing you pirated it...

Fit PC 2 Unboxing