Connect my old hard drive to iMac?

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Level 1

8 points

Connect my old hard drive to iMac?

Hi, my hard drive gave up on me and had to be replaced, and now I want to try connect the old hard drive to my iMac to try access files from it. I have connected it to my iMac via a SATA to USB cable, the light on the SATA cable comes on (which indicates it is connecting), yet it doesn't appear on my desktop as an external or in Disk Utility.

Does anyone know how i get it to appear so I can attempt to access it?

The hard drive was damaged, but I was told by the repair specialist it still should connect in this way (he had it connected in his iMac).

I have ensured hard and external disks are shown on the desktop in Finder preferences. I'm on an iMac late 2009, OS Lion 10.7.4.

Thanks

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Aug 19, 2012 3:06 PM

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Answer 1

RRFS

Level 5

4,522 points

Aug 19, 2012 3:21 PM in response to Spino27

Is it a self powered (has a separate power plug) unit or does it rely on the USB power. It may not be getting enough power to run from the USB alone. If that doesn't get it going it may have become a paperweight.

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Answer 2

Spino27 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 19, 2012 3:48 PM in response to RRFS

Well no it is not self powered – it is literally the old hard drive which was in my iMac, it has no power plug as far as I'm aware.

I was going to buy an enclosure for it, but was told it should work like this using a SATA cable. It is a standard 1TB 3.5' Seagate hard drive.

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Answer 3

Aug 19, 2012 3:57 PM in response to Spino27

Who told you it shold work like this and where did you egt the cable? OWC has a cable like this see http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/U3NVSPATA/ is your cable similar?

When you have the drive connected do your hear or feel if it is spinning?

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Answer 4

Spino27 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 19, 2012 4:13 PM in response to Frank Caggiano

I was told it would work like this by Maplins electronics. I got the cable from their shop, the cable came as part of this external drive – http://www.seagate.com/external-hard-drives/portable-hard-drives/standard/goflex /

The cable doesnt quite look like in that link you provided, no. It looks something like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seagate-FreeAgent-GoFlex-Upgrade-Cable/dp/B003IT6PHM/ref =pd_sim_computers_3/280-9847366-7521912

I dont hear or feel it spinning when connected.

Are you saying it wont work this way which I have been trying? Do i need to get a universal drive adapter?

Finally, is a universal drive adapter the same as an enclosure? Thanks for your help!

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Answer 5

Aug 19, 2012 4:27 PM in response to Spino27

I'm unfamiliar with the cable you mention. If the shop said it would work and you got it from them I would recommend a trip (or at least a call) to the shop for clarification.

If you look at the specs for the cable I linked to (and look at the user manual) you'll see there is a power supply to power the drive. I really don't see how a cable that simply plugs into the drive and the USB port could power the drive.

If you look at the OWC site you'll see in addition to the cable drive enclosures. They have fairly good information at the site so it might be a good idea to poke around there to get a feel of the different solutions to your problem

If you're only looking to try to get data off the drive and once you get the data off you'll discard the drive then the cable is a good solution. If you're thinking of keeping the drive then an enclosure would be the way to go.

But keep in mind if the drive needed to be changed there is a possibility that it is just dead or that the data won't be readable. If you do manage to get access to the drive make sure you copy off any data that is important to you and that you are looking to keep.

regards

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Answer 6

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Aug 19, 2012 4:32 PM in response to Spino27

Spino27 wrote:

I was going to buy an enclosure for it, but was told it should work like this using a SATA cable. It is a standard 1TB 3.5' Seagate hard drive.

That cable is specifically for a Seagate GoFlex, or to put it another way, it is no good with your drive. Buy a 3.5" enclosure with a power supply and use it.

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Answer 7

Spino27 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 20, 2012 4:21 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

Thanks. I may go back to the shop and ask them but likely they were just wrong in this matter and you are closer to the mark. All I'm looking to do is to try connect my old hard drive to try retrieve some old files, once that is done i won't be using it again, so it would appear i do need to get a cable like in that link you shared (a Universal Drive Adapter, correct?). I was told in the repair shop that even though the drive was damaged and unfixable, I should still be able to access it to try retrieve files.

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Answer 8

Spino27 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 20, 2012 4:25 AM in response to Csound1

I see, thanks Csound1. I was told by the electronics person that that cable would work, and she did seem fairly proficient, but ah well! The cable does connect with my old hard drive, though, and the light on it comes on.

I dont think i need to buy a 3.5" enclosure with a power supply, right, a Universal Drive Adapter would do the trick? (im just looking to connect it up to retrieve some files, not a long term thing).

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Answer 9

Aug 20, 2012 8:51 AM in response to Spino27

The cable I linked to should work. There might be cheaper out there so you might want to search around but OWC has always provided good service so keep that in mind.

I'm a bit puzzled by the shops comments, if the drive had to be replaced and was unfixable what makes then think it will be accessible this way? I suppose if the data on the drive is dear enough its worth trying but in all honesty I wouldn't get my hopes to high.

good luck

regards

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Answer 10

Spino27 Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 20, 2012 9:13 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

Sorry, bit of confusion there on my part – it wasnt the shop who said that, it was the Mac repair specialist I brought it too. The hard drive was damaged and could not be fixed, he installed a new hard drive and copied some files from the damaged hard drive to the new one. He said if I wanted to try retrieve more files from the hard drive it might be worth a shot (either by copying them directlty, or using a bit of software to try extract them). So with that in mind, I went an electric shop to seek out what was needed to connect my old hard drive to my imac.

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Answer 11

Csound1

Level 9

60,063 points

Aug 20, 2012 8:11 AM in response to Spino27

Yes, a universal drive adaptor will also work.

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