Member Avatar for froogap

I'm hoping someone can give me some help with a self-made problem. I intended to get a reduced price lan drive for my home wifi network and bought a) a LanDrive case and b) a 500GB Western 'Element5' USB drive.

However, when I stripped down the drive I found that it did not have the 40-pin connector required for the LanDrive setup.

I guess there is no way thay these two devices can be matched, is there? Yeah, I'm sorry it's a stupid question, but there you are.

Thanks for any suggestions (without throwing one or both units in the can!

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Dani AI

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A few practical checks and options to consider before committing to parts. is right that adapters can sometimes bridge the gap, but compatibility is not just about pin counts — interface type, power, and physical space matter too.

Quick way to identify the drive interface:

  • Desktop PATA (IDE) uses a wide 40-pin ribbon-style connector.
  • Laptop PATA (2.5") uses a single 44-pin combi connector (data + power).
  • SATA uses a small L-shaped 7-pin data connector plus a separate 15-pin power connector.
    Confirm the model printed on the drive label and verify the spec sheet online; that removes guesswork. See background on Parallel ATA and Serial ATA.

Common paths and caveats:

  • If the drive is SATA, a passive SATA-to-IDE adapter can work but 3.5" drives require a 12V supply (most adapters don’t provide it). Physical clearance inside the case is often the limiting factor.
  • If it is a 44-pin laptop PATA drive, inexpensive 44→40 adapters exist, but they need clearance and correct mounting.
  • If the original enclosure used a USB-only bridge glued or soldered to the drive PCB, the drive may not present a standard interface at all; in that case the drive is effectively tied to its enclosure electronics.

Practical checklist to resolve the mismatch:

  1. Read the drive model and check the vendor datasheet.
  2. Visually confirm connector type.
  3. Test the drive in a simple USB–SATA/IDE dock or adapter to confirm it is a standard HDD.
  4. Measure internal space and power availability in the LanDrive case.
  5. Choose either a suitable adapter (with proper power) or swap for a native internal drive that fits the case.

These steps avoid throwing parts away and make the right adapter or replacement choice clearer.

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Member Avatar for GrimJack

I'm hoping someone can give me some help with a self-made problem. I intended to get a reduced price lan drive for my home wifi network and bought a) a LanDrive case and b) a 500GB Western 'Element5' USB drive.

However, when I stripped down the drive I found that it did not have the 40-pin connector required for the LanDrive setup.

I guess there is no way thay these two devices can be matched, is there? Yeah, I'm sorry it's a stupid question, but there you are.

Thanks for any suggestions (without throwing one or both units in the can!

What kind of connector did the drive have? Have you looked at this:
Cables To Go - IDE / EIDE adapter - 40 pin IDC, 4 pin internal power - 44 pin IDC (F) Would it work?

Member Avatar for froogap

What kind of connector did the drive have? Have you looked at this:
Cables To Go - IDE / EIDE adapter - 40 pin IDC, 4 pin internal power - 44 pin IDC (F) Would it work?

That's seems like a great idea! I'll check out the Cables to Go site and see what they have. Trouble is, there isn't a helluva lot of room in the case:( But you never know.

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