Octopus Overlords

Posted: **Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:32 am**

I'd like to temporarily hook my laptop platter drive (a 1TB 2.5" SATA) to a desktop computer. I need to transfer almost a full terabyte of data from one to the other, and doing it across my wireless network would take forever, as my router tends to disconnect on large data transfers. This would only be for an hour or so as the data transfers, then it will go back into the laptop, so I'm not too worried about getting a proper mount. I just need to know whether the interfaces are compatible.

Posted: **Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:54 am**

Depends on whether your mobo has the smaller SATA cables and/or ports. I've done with with every desktop I've had in the last decade. Worst case, you can get/borrow a SATA to USB or one of the universal adapters.

If you're asking about compatibility, if the cable fits, it will work.

Posted: **Thu Aug 05, 2021 10:15 am**

Hell, I didn't even know there were different sizes of SATA cables (I haven't pulled the drive from the laptop yet.)

Posted: **Thu Aug 05, 2021 10:18 am**

Mostly I'm just trying to avoid having to order new parts for a one-hour job, then having to wait a week for them to arrive.

Posted: **Thu Aug 05, 2021 10:52 am**

You will probably need the smaller SATA power and data connector. The laptop drives generally have them both lined up nicely so the entire drive can be "slotted" into place, unlike the desktop with separate plugs (it's still separate, just lined up nicely).

What I often do is I buy an external HD enclosure for this sort of work. It should have all the setup inside to take such a drive, and you just connect the USB to your PC.

Posted: **Thu Aug 05, 2021 11:56 am**

Kasey Chang wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 10:52 am You will probably need the smaller SATA power and data connector. The laptop drives generally have them both lined up nicely so the entire drive can be "slotted" into place, unlike the desktop with separate plugs (it's still separate, just lined up nicely).

Yeah, the laptop probably won't have cables. Check your desktop motherboard and PSU, they often have the correct data and power cables.

Posted: **Thu Aug 05, 2021 12:00 pm**

Just to be clear (and I see now that I was a little vague), what I'm doing it putting a new (permanent) 2TB hard drive into the desktop, then transferring the terabyte of data from the laptop to the desktop. I just wanted to see if I could yank the laptop's drive, stick it into the desktop for a couple of hours to transfer the files that way. It's that or transfer them two at a time every 20 minutes for the next few days.

Posted: **Thu Aug 05, 2021 12:48 pm**

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 12:00 pm Just to be clear (and I see now that I was a little vague), what I'm doing it putting a new (permanent) 2TB hard drive into the desktop, then transferring the terabyte of data from the laptop to the desktop. I just wanted to see if I could yank the laptop's drive, stick it into the desktop for a couple of hours to transfer the files that way. It's that or transfer them two at a time every 20 minutes for the next few days.

Yeah, shouldn't be a problem assuming the desktop has the connections.

Posted: **Thu Aug 05, 2021 5:07 pm**

Blackhawk wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:32 am I'd like to temporarily hook my laptop platter drive (a 1TB 2.5" SATA) to a desktop computer. I need to transfer almost a full terabyte of data from one to the other, and doing it across my wireless network would take forever, as my router tends to disconnect on large data transfers. This would only be for an hour or so as the data transfers, then it will go back into the laptop, so I'm not too worried about getting a proper mount. I just need to know whether the interfaces are compatible.

this is a standard use case, so yes, it will work. (and i have personally not seen this small form factor SATA plug mentioned above)

Posted: **Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:14 pm**

Just to clarify, most HD, even the 2.5 inches, use "standard SATA", but there are some that uses micro-SATA, esp. the small SSDs.

https://www.senove.com/types-sata-connectors/

Posted: **Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:21 pm**

Most 2.5" SATA drives including 2.5" SATA SSD use the same SATA connectors (SATA data and SATA power) as the 3.5" SATA drives.

Posted: **Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:34 pm**

Again, open the desktop case and I'd they fit, it will work. You'll need both data and power.

Posted: **Thu Aug 05, 2021 10:37 pm**

Yep, and it worked. I'm not terribly comfortable working on laptops yet, and if it wasn't possible I wanted to know before I pulled it out.

Thanks.

Octopus Overlords

2.5" SATA / desktop compatibility?

2.5" SATA / desktop compatibility?

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Re: 2.5" SATA / desktop compatibility?

Re: 2.5" SATA / desktop compatibility?

Re: 2.5" SATA / desktop compatibility?

Re: 2.5" SATA / desktop compatibility?

Re: 2.5" SATA / desktop compatibility?

Re: 2.5" SATA / desktop compatibility?

Re: 2.5" SATA / desktop compatibility?

Re: 2.5" SATA / desktop compatibility?