Have another (trashed, broken) computer with a SATA hard drive in it. My new computer has e-SATA input right in the front.

Even though it's an internal and not an external drive, could I hook it up through the e-SATA port and retrieve some information on it?? Would I need a different SATA cord?? The hole on the front of the computer looks like just a standard SATA feed but maybe there is a difference between SATA and e-SATA???

Sorry if this is really dumb question (which I'm sure it is) but wanted to ask before I went to the trouble of pulling the hard drive out of the broken computer and looking for a SATA cable to use.

eSATA and SATA are different connectors so you'd need a different cable and I can't recall seeing any SATA -> eSATA connectors but they probably exist. Otherwise, you'll need an enclosure for the drive.

EDIT: They are actually quite different connectors.

EDIT #2: As I thought, SATA to eSATA cables exist :)

Oh, wow, just looking at it it looks almost the same. But after I viewed that picture, I took off my glasses, and got up real close, and WOW. Yeah, they are different.

Sorry about that. I don't know why I didn't recognize the difference at first. Now that I've seen it, it's easy to see.

And thanks for the link to adapter, that's what I'll need.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I forgot to make this a question, so I apologize for not getting the 5 rep points, but I will +1 your reply. I've got to do better about remembering to mark these things as questions so allthe helpful folks here can get the rep they deserve.

THANK YOU!

You will also need a way to power the drive. I have a power supply which just has a molex and SATA power connector on it, but in a pinch, you can short 2 of the pins of a PSU and power it that way in a pinch (if you have a working PSU lying around).

LOL!

I just logged in to post what an idiot I was. I went to take out the old hard drive, and of course immediately got reminded that there were TWO wires connected, one for power. I totally forgot like an idiot. And I just now, a couple of months ago, finished my very first self built new computer. You'd think I would've remembered that each drive had two hookups, one data and one power, but NOOOOOOOOOEEEEEE.

Oh well, I'll try to get the info if/when I ever repair the one that UPS trashed.

Thanks again, and sorry for being such a moron.

Not even close to being a moron.

You get to moron status when you say things like "I pushed on the RAM until the plastic on the motherboard broke, then when I turned it it burst into flame. Computers are stupid" :P

I didn't notice if it was mentioned, but you could get an e-sata device you drop the hdd into, I had one at one point but I think I gave it away when I got some external drives. It worked like a charm though and I do recommend it. You can get them at probably any electronics shop, such as Radio Shack, The Source, Futureshop, Best Buy, Staples, etc...

I also forgot you could get a HDD docking station for cheap too...

I've had to deal with people like that sad to say. You get to the point you just want to say, "hello sir/madam, please disconnect the computer from the wall, put it back in it's packaging and mail it back to the company, because you are too stupid to own a computer!!!"

Yeah, OFG, I'm with Xyem on that one, You're not even close to being a moron...