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Keda · Dec 28, 2004, 07:39 PM

I replaced the HD in a gen1 iBook (3.2GB) with a 40GB version. I thought I backed-up all the files, but now I notice that a few didn't transfer. Is there a way to hook the old laptop drive up to my desktop inorder to remove the old files?

I have an old FW enclosure the used to contain a standard ATA drive. Can I use this to get the laptop drive to connect to the desktop? I really don't want to disassemble the iBook again.

Any ideas?

Paul Huang · Dec 28, 2004, 09:06 PM

You should NOT go through the torture of disassembling and assembling the iBook again. I am located in the LA area. If you don't want to buy a $70 drive enclosure, you are welcome to use mine. Oh, you don't have a FW port. You may hook up the enclosure to another computer with FW, then transfer over network.

Keda · Dec 29, 2004, 06:34 AM

Thanks for the offer.

I have an old FW enclosure that I believe is operational. It was going to bo to the trash at my job, so I took it instead. They said the HD was damaged, but I never got around to looking into it. Yesterday, I disassembled the enclosure and removed the drive.

I'm going to try to buy a 2.5 to 3.5 convertor cable and attach the laptop drive drive this way. I can hook this up via an other Mac.

Dr.Michael · Dec 29, 2004, 09:36 AM

Originally posted by Keda:
Thanks for the offer.
I'm going to try to buy a 2.5 to 3.5 convertor cable and attach the laptop drive drive this way. I can hook this up via an other Mac.

Thats the way to go! It will cost only a few cent.

amazing · Dec 29, 2004, 06:26 PM

OWC has 2.5" firewire/usb enclosures for $50. Newegg.com had Macally 2.5" firewire/usb enclosures for $37. So that's the upper limit of what you might spend, plus you'll then have a portable firewire HD for backup or file transfer.

Keda · Dec 30, 2004, 08:29 AM

I went out yesterday with the intention of buying a converter cable. After a few stops, I got tired of looking and bought a 2.5" USB case for $30.

While I feel somewhat defeated by giving in to the easy answer, the solution has mostly worked and the data is recovered. It seems that the iBook's USB will not recognize the device. The drive spins, but the volume does not mount in the Finder. Instead, I used my PB to download the data, then burned a CD to get it to the iBook.

Now that I have this thing, I'm going to play with it to see if I can get it to work on the iBook (this Mac actually belongs to my Mom, who is only visiting for the Holidays). Any ideas why the iBook's USB won't recognize the drive? Could it be a HW issue - old USB chip?