Can a SATA dock accept a hot-swap drive with its tray still attached?
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MellowCedar42
I'm looking at a StarTech SATA drive dock and wondering whether I can insert a hot-swap drive while it's still mounted in its caddy or tray. I'd prefer not to remove the tray every time, especially if the drive could be used vertically. Has anyone tried this, or will the tray interfere with the dock's opening?
Answers
Usually not. If the caddy extends even slightly from the sides or bottom of the drive, it won’t slide into the dock properly. You’ll most likely need to remove the tray first.
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I tried fitting a drive with its tray attached, and it wouldn’t go in unless the caddy was an unusually narrow design. A separate adapter or enclosure is a better option if you want to avoid removing the tray.
MellowCedar42: I was hoping the vertical setup would make it neater, but removing the tray every time probably defeats the purpose.
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CopperLynx18: That makes the dock a lot less convenient than just using a SATA cable or adapter.