I'm trying to access data from a few old IDE drives that might contain important historical information. Unfortunately, I've been struggling to find a dependable IDE to USB adapter that will actually recognize these drives in Windows. I've tried two different adapters, but neither of them work. In contrast, my SATA to USB adapter works flawlessly.
Ideally, I'm looking for an adapter that can support two drives configured in a master/slave setup since they're still connected using the original IDE ribbon. Here are the two adapters I've attempted:
1. SinLoon IDE Adapter: [Amazon Link](https://www.amazon.ca/SinLoon-Converter-Cable-Adapter-5-25in/dp/B08PB39JRX/ref=sr_1_12)
2. Vantec IDE to USB Adapter: [Newegg Link](https://www.newegg.com/vantec-cb-isatau3-ide-sata-to-usb/p/N82E16812232032)
4 Answers
Have you tried connecting just one drive at a time? Most cheap USB to IDE adapters only handle one drive, so you might want to verify if it's a specific issue with your setup. Also, ensure the drive is set to master or cable select. It can get tricky with older drives.
I remember struggling with older IDE drives and USB adapters. Drives made between 2000 and 2010 can be particularly troublesome, sometimes due to their signal voltage, which can be incompatible with newer adapters. If your drives are 3.5" and from the late 80s to mid-2000s, they might indeed need an older PC with a proper IDE controller for reliable access.
I’ve got a SIIG adapter that supports both SATA and IDE. It features a power cable that connects to the SATA to accommodate the molex power for the IDE drives. Just a heads-up, I haven’t tested it with more than one drive at a time, so that could be a limitation.
The models of your drives might be a factor. Sometimes larger desktop IDE drives need external power, so if you're using big 3.5" drives, make sure they're powered up properly. You could check out this adapter with a power option: [Adapter Link](https://www.amazon.ca/Converter-Adapter-Support4TB-Include-2APower/dp/B075WY92BW) since it might solve the issue.
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