Author Topic: eSata interface + Ext HDD File Arrangement Settings (Read 2251 times)

Lupin · « **Reply #20 on:** May 02, 2011, 02:33:32 PM »

Quote from: TifaLockhart on May 02, 2011, 12:53:04 PM

Yes, but default just isnt the way it's suppose to be, take for eg. some episodes in a series are named in such away that the episodes does not arrange from 1-12 when "arrange by name". I like to know which is the series i watched in chronological order as well which the default auto arrange settings does not provide for, i do keep a list of it in chronological order however, i prefer for both the actual and data to be one and the same instead of being different, esp. when i'm looking for what to watch.
Its fine and perfect if the files are actually created by me, giving me the opportunity to name them however way i want, but when files are downloaded, i tend to respect the name it comes with as well as seeding issues hence i keep them in their original form.

It's an issue I've been putting up with up till now so I'm not really complaining, but lamenting against the cruel idea that such a simple thing as organizing digital data according to individual needs can't be perform hassle free when it should have been something which comes intuitively.

In 7/vista, it's not that difficult to right click->sort by->more... to rearrange the files

TifaLockhart · « **Reply #21 on:** May 02, 2011, 09:23:24 PM »

In fact i am using vista, but which of the choice would allow me to custom my arrangement?

Stsin · « **Reply #22 on:** May 03, 2011, 06:18:25 AM »

I use a Rosewill docking station connected to my eSata port:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182197
With Samsung 2TB drives:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152245

Rosewill isn't a brand known for it's quality; but with it being pretty cheap, I decided to give it a try or end up building an expensive raid array for my ever increasing need for more storage. I already had 4 internal drives being near full as well as another old comp full of drives on my home network. Had my fill of slow USB externals and chose to get an eSata docking station that I can hot swap drives when wanted. Been using it for over 6 months with no problems.

Since this dock isn't enclosed, there's no fan. But it couldn't be easier to swap drives.
I recommend SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD204UI 2TB 5400 RPM drives. Seems the most reliable of the 2TB drives and the low RPM means it stays cool without need for fans. But surprisingly it has great transfer speeds:
Here's a speed test on my latest drive (also wanted to make sure it was aligned). Tested while running on my eSata Dock:

The access time is lacking due to the low RPM, but the transfer rate is better than my internal WD Caviar Blacks. Perfect for storage. With copying speeds near 100 MB/s and with it also being hotswappable, I rarely touch my USB external drives.

To be able to hot swap the drives, you need to use AHCI. But for some reason can't dismount eSata devices with my Win 7's 'Safely remove devices' utility. This is common, but there's a program called Hotswap that does allow it and also helps mount the new drive after switching.

edit:

Well, after reading the whole thread, I agree that USB 3.0 is a good way to go. I assume the reason why my dock is discontinued is because it also can use USB 2.0 and everything is switching to USB 3.0.
But if you want to hot swap (switch drives without rebooting), eSata is the way to go.

As for arrangement: If you just want your files in proper order when viewing to play, then Otaku Media Manager is the way to go.
http://www.otakumm.com/

Just took these screenshots to show off this awesome media player:

Tested it on the new hard drive as I was adding anime to it.

Found this a few days ago from a post by Lisa Hayes on Hongfong. It's the open sourced MediaPortal using a My Anime plugin that gets info from AniDB. Updates your database, sorts in groups, and gives correct title for each episode no matter how it's named (not modifying original files or locations). I have no problems playing any of the anime, including the softsubs which are exactly the same.

kitamesume · « **Reply #23 on:** May 03, 2011, 07:55:09 AM »

Quote from: kitamesume on May 02, 2011, 01:48:17 PM

do this, copy the file into a different folder and delete the old copy, move the new copy back, it should now have a creation date of that time you copied it. now try and rightclick your folder and arrange OR group them by date created, it should sort things out to oldest to newest of date or vice versa.

if the option of sorting it via "date created" is missing, press "more" just below the dropbox and find the checkbox "date created", check it and rerightclick the folder and sort it by date created.

now this is a fascinating trick to make it more unique, change your clock on your lower right into your desired date and do the above.

this type of trick is permanent, unless you replace the files with newer or older copies, even if you transfer the storage device into a different pc, as long as you sort it by date created on the rightclick dropbox then it should sort things instantly. moving the files too doesnt change the date created so its safe to move it around.

i came up with this trick just a few minutes ago, i do sort files via date created so i`d knew when i downloaded them but forcefully changing the date created is... you know =P

geez you guys didnt even notice my older post?

TifaLockhart · « **Reply #24 on:** May 05, 2011, 03:20:40 PM »

Ok, everyone can laugh now...

I just got my new 2TB harddisk with Sata, which i spent afew hrs fiddling with to have it fit in my already packed micro mobo, and guess what, i see no diff in transfer speed because i was transferring from a usb2.0 hdd ---> sata hdd.

I feel retarded -_-;

Freedom Kira · « **Reply #25 on:** May 05, 2011, 04:05:01 PM »

I don't follow. I thought that was your original problem. Come again?

TifaLockhart · « **Reply #26 on:** May 05, 2011, 04:12:11 PM »

I have more than 1 harddisk, most of them are usb2.0, got a new hdd (2TB + sata) happily connected to sata just to find out my usb2.0 harddisk's is chocking my transfer speed for the new harddisk.

kureshii · « **Reply #27 on:** May 05, 2011, 04:23:48 PM »

Transfer from an internal disk to another internal disk *next* time

NaRu · « **Reply #28 on:** May 05, 2011, 05:12:08 PM »

If you are transferring from one external drive to another external drive and using the same USB channel then your speed will be divided by 2

kitamesume · « **Reply #29 on:** May 05, 2011, 05:59:30 PM »

no, if i understood correctly, he meant he bought an esata and is transfering his old USB2.0 contents into the esata, which had the USB2.0 bottlenecked hence feeling dumb founded.

Freedom Kira · « **Reply #30 on:** May 05, 2011, 09:38:02 PM »

He quite clearly said SATA. The 2TB disk in question is internally connected. Not that it matters, though.

But, OP, I honestly thought you were transferring files between an internal and an external. I guess you didn't indicate one way or the other. You should try connecting your externals by eSATA, since they have eSATA ports (from my understanding).

TifaLockhart · « **Reply #31 on:** May 06, 2011, 02:50:08 AM »

Quote from: Freedom Kira on May 05, 2011, 09:38:02 PM

He quite clearly said SATA. The 2TB disk in question is internally connected. Not that it matters, though.

But, OP, I honestly thought you were transferring files between an internal and an external. I guess you didn't indicate one way or the other. You should try connecting your externals by eSATA, since they have eSATA ports (from my understanding).

Actually no, let me clear the air, I have 6 Hard disks. 1 Main (650GB) internal, the rest are all external. 1, 1TB full external - 1, 1TB internal + 3rd party casing (external) - 2, 1.5TB internal + 3rd party casing (external) and lastly the new one I got, 2TB with external casing.

So what happened is, all my older hard disks are set with usb2.0 capable of e-sata 3.0Gb/s and i have been lamenting the fact that they move way too slowly when i'm transferring between drives and organizing files so comes the idea of getting a sata upgrade for my new drive. (little did i know of my oversight...) So i happily went out to get my new 2TB external hard disk and a e-sata interface only to find that even though i can get faster speed transferring from my Main Hard disk to my new 2TB Hard disk, drive to drive is slow as usual...
Its just physically impossible to get all my drives to e-sata since my interface supports only 1 e-sata and from the look of what is being sold, the most input an interface can get is 4 e-sata IN, which wouldnt do nuts.
(Not to mention the e-sata connection is pretty perky, i was having some trouble getting it to show sometimes when i turn it on)

All in all, my efforts was futile and i have been mopping over the extra work i've done for nothing...

Freedom Kira · « **Reply #32 on:** May 06, 2011, 04:12:25 AM »

Well, at least you tried.

I suggest you get a new computer instead of getting so many externals. A new computer with native eSATA (and probably USB 3.0) support, that is.

kitamesume · « **Reply #33 on:** May 06, 2011, 04:56:23 AM »

nah, just make a NAS, all internals, the only thing that you`d consider external on this one is the NAS it self, just think of the NAS as an external storage with a built in CPU.

it connects through LAN tho.

TifaLockhart · « **Reply #34 on:** May 06, 2011, 05:41:19 AM »

I'm actually thinking of getting a new Mobo and a OS upgrade, but thats way beyond my means now, both in terms of cash and hassle. My rig is built with the idea of playing games and watching videos. As stated previously, the arrangement thing is deterring me from changing an OS as well as the Mobo, the uncertainty of my files getting messed up is keeping me from doing this. Also, i cant really see any alt's for storage, i'm also running out of usb ports for external's so i'm pretty much neck deep in waters.

Also any help on how to stabilize the e-sata connection is much appreciated, the on and off detection of the drive for the e-sata connection is killing me, i might just change it back to usb2.0...

For those who are interested, this is my rig

CPU
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01477474&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=3746700

Upgrades
2 X 2GB DDR2 Ram - Max i can go on Vista 32
GFX - http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?leg=&psn=000101&pid=320
Monitor - http://www.samsung.com/sg/consumer/pc-peripherals-printer/monitor/lcd-monitor/LS26TDDSUV/XS/index.idx?pagetype=prd_detail&tab=specification

NaRu · « **Reply #35 on:** May 06, 2011, 06:38:16 AM »

This is why I don't even bother with external HDDs.

It seems to be that you just have too many external sharing USB 2.0. Im guessing the bottleneck is your Mother Board. Perhaps you are overloading your southbridge.

TifaLockhart · « **Reply #36 on:** May 06, 2011, 07:10:27 AM »

Quote from: bork on April 30, 2011, 02:24:16 PM

esata is just a sata connector with a positive connector retention clip - it does not fall out.

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-eSATA-Plate-Bracket-ESATAPLATE2/dp/tags-on-product/B000NPKGH4

Seen them for about $4 other places.

Nvm... I think i found my problem...

I got something similar to that sata to expansion port, and I kept thinking my e-sata external is still an external portable drive...
The e-sata to plate bracket actually makes the external drive behave like an internal drive and hence you'll have to start up the harddisk before turning the power of the CPU on, another downside is you cant powerdown the hdd as well if it's in idle mode... neither can you safely remove hardware.

Stsin · « **Reply #37 on:** May 06, 2011, 08:14:00 AM »

There's a program called "Hotswap!" that allows you to 'safely remove' esata drives. It ensures all data is flushed and written to the drive, also spinning it down.

Was made so can hot swap drives off the esata port in which Win7 normally doesn't do. It may also be able to recognize the drive if powered on late, since its able to detect swapped drives. Though may need to be configured for AHCI.

btw, I tested swapping drives without 'safely removing' it...bad. Wrote remnants of previous drive onto another. Luckily it was a new drive in which I promptly cleaned.

kitamesume · « **Reply #38 on:** May 06, 2011, 08:14:23 AM »

correct, you`ll need a hot swap software or a capable motherboard to switch and plug while computer is on.

another thing, if you're gonna switch motherboards, your old motherboard can be reused as a NAS, just grab a cheap processor and a few other components, PSU, ram and case, you wouldnt need GPU on a NAS box. it should cost about 75-150$ all in all.

TifaLockhart · « **Reply #39 on:** May 07, 2011, 06:42:10 PM »

Great, thanks for the info on HotSwap!, it works perfectly.