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SATA laptop drive installed into a PC ..?

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datora:
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(Hopefully) a quick question.

I have a SATA laptop drive in an external case.  I would like to connect the drive directly to my PC (bypassing the USB interface).

I think this is cool ... the data and power connectors look identical, and I think I've heard that this is part of the benefits of SATA design: that you are supposed to be able to do this.

But ... have any of you guys actually done this?  Any considerations or dangers to be aware of?

I'm trying to accomplish two things:  1) I want to be able to quickly fill and empty the portable drive.  2) I have an opportunity to get a free SATA laptop drive that I'd like to use to upgrade an old PC with, as in, clone the existing ancient (and I think dangerously unstable) PATA drive over to the laptop SATA and use that as the OS/install system drive.

All opinions welcome, especially when backed up by experience &/or a link or two with good info resources.

Thank you!

Freedom Kira:
This is perfectly fine, yes. Take a look at 2.5" SSDs - they can be used in laptops or desktops.

Since you're probably not keeping it in there permanently, this probably won't pertain to you, but if you do intend to keep it in there permanently, do consider a 2.5" to 3.5" mounting bracket similar to those included with 2.5" SSDs.

But do keep in mind that you will likely void the warranty if you open up your external, unless you put it in there yourself.

datora:
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Thank you very much!  :)

So, I'm all ready to plug and go and .... the fricking power supply for the system doesn't have SATA power connectors.  This on a system with a mobo that has SATA capability, and is blatantly advertised on the front of the case.

uuurrrrghh!

So.  I've got a burned out PSU in a corner (from last year's lightening strike), and I'm about to clip off one of its SATA power connectors and wire it to the working PSU, only to notice the SATA connector uses five wires and the PATA connectors use four.

*!head!bang!to!desk!head!bang!to!desk!head!bang!to!desk!*

Ohhhh.  Now it is ON, now it's personal.  Gonna MAKE this fucker work even if it kills me (always awesome famous last words when about to perform hard wiring h4Xez).  ;D

No, no.  Don't anyone please suggest a simple PATA to SATA converter dongle.  This is gonna be a zero-cost hack even if it takes me a week.  Like I said, it's personal now ...


And, yeah, I've already got some metal strips I've bent & drilled to make a permanent mount to convert a 3.5" space for a 2.5" drive.  All my external storage cases are built from parts, so no warranties to void; the parts are either under warranty or have expired over the many years' of use I torment my equipment with.  Nothing is allowed to die; even when it does, their body parts are sewn into frankencontraptions so that my zombie army may live.   ;)

kitamesume:
theres a ton of Molex-to-Sata converters on most PC shops for less than 5$.

something like this:
[4$] Rosewill 6" Molex 4pin Male to Two 15pin SATA Power Cable Model RC-6"-PW-4P-2SA

Freedom Kira:
I wonder if you've finally lost it. Not even gonna consider getting a converter for <$5, and wiring it yourself instead? The time spent and the risk isn't worth it IMO.

But, if you still insist... Somehow those PATA to SATA converters only use four wires. So perhaps it's possible, but... still seems risky. There's always a chance that they do some weird wiring in the converter. Google or talk to someone in the know before you try anything.

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