Topic: SATA hard drive connector problem

[Elvis]

I'm really disgusted with myself.

Over the past few weeks I've been assembling a computer and this past weekend I purchased another WD Raptor SATA drive to combine it with then one I already bought. They really do fly in a raid 0 configuration.

Well today I was looking at the jumble of wires I have in my case and decided that I could do a better job at organizing and concealing wires. So I disconnected and started rearranging, until I came to the HD. There was a definite "crack" or maybe a "snap" as I disconnected the SATA interface connector from the drive. At first I thought i had snapped the entire connector off, but it turns out just the plastic broke. "JUST!" The actual connectors(the metal part) is still there and the plastic support is in the end of the SATA cable.  I was able to gently and carefully slip the SATA cable back on and reboot and it works, but the connection is very loose. Any ideas other than electrical tape to make the connection more secure?  

[IKV Nemesis D7L]

Quote:
I'm really disgusted with myself.
....
and the plastic support is in the end of the SATA cable.  I was able to gently and carefully slip the SATA cable back on and reboot and it works, but the connection is very loose. Any ideas other than electrical tape to make the connection more secure?  

Assuming that each part has some of the plastic then I would suggest glue for plastic models.  Otherwise some silicon based sealant would do the trick.  It should be non conducting and stick quite well to both parts.  In either case use sparingly and arrange to catch any droppings (an anti static bag as a drip cloth would be good).

Actually I have the same problem right now with a memory socket.  All of my other units give some tactile feedback when the memory is seated and the clips seat themselves.  The newest machine does not and I had to do some memory shuffling, the clip broke off one end.  Now I plan to get some glue and use one "dot"  to seal that end in the socket.  I never intend to upgrade that machine beyond 1GB anyhow .    

[E_Look]

Guys, wouldn't it be better to keep the system off for a short while, while you're out shopping for a new SATA cable, after you gingerly remove the metal contact pieces from the HD's connector?

[IKV Nemesis D7L]

Quote:
Guys, wouldn't it be better to keep the system off for a short while, while you're out shopping for a new SATA cable, after you gingerly remove the metal contact pieces from the HD's connector?  

Unless I misunderstood it is the drive side that broke.    

[Elvis]

The drive side broke. The metal "prongs" stick out of the drive but the plastic that supports the "prongs" is broken off in the cable.  Thanks for the advice Nemesis. I contacted Western Digital to see if ait could be fixed but they have no repair stations, but that probably would have cost me as much as the drive itself. It works I'll just have to live with it for the time being.  

[Elvis]

I'm really disgusted with myself.

Over the past few weeks I've been assembling a computer and this past weekend I purchased another WD Raptor SATA drive to combine it with then one I already bought. They really do fly in a raid 0 configuration.

Well today I was looking at the jumble of wires I have in my case and decided that I could do a better job at organizing and concealing wires. So I disconnected and started rearranging, until I came to the HD. There was a definite "crack" or maybe a "snap" as I disconnected the SATA interface connector from the drive. At first I thought i had snapped the entire connector off, but it turns out just the plastic broke. "JUST!" The actual connectors(the metal part) is still there and the plastic support is in the end of the SATA cable.  I was able to gently and carefully slip the SATA cable back on and reboot and it works, but the connection is very loose. Any ideas other than electrical tape to make the connection more secure?  

[IKV Nemesis D7L]

Quote:
I'm really disgusted with myself.
....
and the plastic support is in the end of the SATA cable.  I was able to gently and carefully slip the SATA cable back on and reboot and it works, but the connection is very loose. Any ideas other than electrical tape to make the connection more secure?  

Assuming that each part has some of the plastic then I would suggest glue for plastic models.  Otherwise some silicon based sealant would do the trick.  It should be non conducting and stick quite well to both parts.  In either case use sparingly and arrange to catch any droppings (an anti static bag as a drip cloth would be good).

Actually I have the same problem right now with a memory socket.  All of my other units give some tactile feedback when the memory is seated and the clips seat themselves.  The newest machine does not and I had to do some memory shuffling, the clip broke off one end.  Now I plan to get some glue and use one "dot"  to seal that end in the socket.  I never intend to upgrade that machine beyond 1GB anyhow .    

[E_Look]

Guys, wouldn't it be better to keep the system off for a short while, while you're out shopping for a new SATA cable, after you gingerly remove the metal contact pieces from the HD's connector?

[IKV Nemesis D7L]

Quote:
Guys, wouldn't it be better to keep the system off for a short while, while you're out shopping for a new SATA cable, after you gingerly remove the metal contact pieces from the HD's connector?  

Unless I misunderstood it is the drive side that broke.    

[Elvis]

The drive side broke. The metal "prongs" stick out of the drive but the plastic that supports the "prongs" is broken off in the cable.  Thanks for the advice Nemesis. I contacted Western Digital to see if ait could be fixed but they have no repair stations, but that probably would have cost me as much as the drive itself. It works I'll just have to live with it for the time being.  

[Elvis]

I'm really disgusted with myself.

Over the past few weeks I've been assembling a computer and this past weekend I purchased another WD Raptor SATA drive to combine it with then one I already bought. They really do fly in a raid 0 configuration.

Well today I was looking at the jumble of wires I have in my case and decided that I could do a better job at organizing and concealing wires. So I disconnected and started rearranging, until I came to the HD. There was a definite "crack" or maybe a "snap" as I disconnected the SATA interface connector from the drive. At first I thought i had snapped the entire connector off, but it turns out just the plastic broke. "JUST!" The actual connectors(the metal part) is still there and the plastic support is in the end of the SATA cable.  I was able to gently and carefully slip the SATA cable back on and reboot and it works, but the connection is very loose. Any ideas other than electrical tape to make the connection more secure?  

[IKV Nemesis D7L]

Quote:
I'm really disgusted with myself.
....
and the plastic support is in the end of the SATA cable.  I was able to gently and carefully slip the SATA cable back on and reboot and it works, but the connection is very loose. Any ideas other than electrical tape to make the connection more secure?  

Assuming that each part has some of the plastic then I would suggest glue for plastic models.  Otherwise some silicon based sealant would do the trick.  It should be non conducting and stick quite well to both parts.  In either case use sparingly and arrange to catch any droppings (an anti static bag as a drip cloth would be good).

Actually I have the same problem right now with a memory socket.  All of my other units give some tactile feedback when the memory is seated and the clips seat themselves.  The newest machine does not and I had to do some memory shuffling, the clip broke off one end.  Now I plan to get some glue and use one "dot"  to seal that end in the socket.  I never intend to upgrade that machine beyond 1GB anyhow .    

[E_Look]

Guys, wouldn't it be better to keep the system off for a short while, while you're out shopping for a new SATA cable, after you gingerly remove the metal contact pieces from the HD's connector?

[IKV Nemesis D7L]

Quote:
Guys, wouldn't it be better to keep the system off for a short while, while you're out shopping for a new SATA cable, after you gingerly remove the metal contact pieces from the HD's connector?  

Unless I misunderstood it is the drive side that broke.    

[Elvis]

The drive side broke. The metal "prongs" stick out of the drive but the plastic that supports the "prongs" is broken off in the cable.  Thanks for the advice Nemesis. I contacted Western Digital to see if ait could be fixed but they have no repair stations, but that probably would have cost me as much as the drive itself. It works I'll just have to live with it for the time being.