Does anyone still use the hard drive docks for bare drives? Followed closely the thread today regarding hard drives and many folks suggested buying hard drives for backup and putting...

hj Loc: Florida

Followed closely the thread today regarding hard drives and many folks suggested buying hard drives for backup and putting them in an enclosure. Nothing was said about using bare drives in a "dock" which allows quick changing from one drive to another.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

hj wrote:

Followed closely the thread today regarding hard drives and many folks suggested buying hard drives for backup and putting them in an enclosure. Nothing was said about using bare drives in a "dock" which allows quick changing from one drive to another.

I only use/ used the ones that you just plug in your USB port and you're ready to go!

WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

The reason most of us use enclosures is because they are usually hot swappable many of the docks are not.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Hard Disks are fragile things, and need the protection of a case.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

I have an SATA hard drive dock and several hard drives that I use for back ups of all types of things. Works fine. Two are duplicate storage for my photos. As far as the hard drives being fragile, not really. Done it for years with no problems. I don't use the drives for pounding nails. They just sit on the shelf when not in use. Large capacity and real convenient. Used to have an ATA dock. Still got it someplace, but upgraded to SATA when they became the standard drive. I also have some external USB hard drives for backup, but I find the dock to be handier.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

If you are buying an enclosure check that the wiring is correct for the HD There are at least two different ones to my knowledge. I use them when my computer fails....it saves having to transfer all the c%%% that you 'might need' onto a new PC. Also back up all the business info.

have fun

hj Loc: Florida

Been using my Data dock and several hard drives for a few years with never a problem. When not in use I store them in the box they came in. I don't leave them connected for daily updates. Just back up occasionally and yes I know I might lose a few weeks of data in between. Just wondered if others are using the docks and bare drives. I seem to see more people having problems with their enclosures than bare drives.

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

Hard Disks are fragile things, and need the protection of a case.

blackest Loc: Ireland

hj wrote:

Been using my Data dock and several hard drives for a few years with never a problem. When not in use I store them in the box they came in. I don't leave them connected for daily updates. Just back up occasionally and yes I know I might lose a few weeks of data in between. Just wondered if others are using the docks and bare drives. I seem to see more people having problems with their enclosures than bare drives.

I have a few hard drives that I use occasionally, they tend to go in a dock. There are times when a few 100 GB can be useful but not worth buying a dedicated enclosure for them.

hj Loc: Florida

blackest wrote:

I have a few hard drives that I use occasionally, they tend to go in a dock. There are times when a few 100 GB can be useful but not worth buying a dedicated enclosure for them.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Yes, I use the docs are low cost, Newegg $18 .... for my small SSD drive, for $1 there is a plastic adapter tray ... china direct... works fine. I have had crashes many years ago and taken a week to get to an acceptable point, losing many programs and mods... tragic... all ended with easy backup using the hot swap drawer as backup... So convenient
StarTech.com 5.25in Trayless Hot Swap Mobile Rack for 3.5in Hard Drive - Internal SATA Backplane Enclosure (HSB100SATBK)

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

hj wrote:

Followed closely the thread today regarding hard drives and many folks suggested buying hard drives for backup and putting them in an enclosure. Nothing was said about using bare drives in a "dock" which allows quick changing from one drive to another.

I have a couple of docks which I can use, but I put my "permanent" drives into an enclosure, most recently, one I made out of wood. The dock is for temporary use. I especially like the Sabrent enclosures.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LS5NFQ2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Don, the 2nd son Loc: Crowded Florida

LFingar wrote:

I have an SATA hard drive dock and several hard dr... (show quote)

Ditto. As I have moved up now to SSD drives the dock allows me to use the older replaced drives for storage. Very careful handling and storage of course.

Jimbolarue77 Loc: Hampshire, UK

I have 2 x 2TB Bare drives & 2 x 1TB that I use in my Sharkoon dock. One 2 TB sits in the dock semi permanently but not switched on unless I want to use it. I use these drives for program backups and of course those all important photos. I have never had any trouble with the dock. I think from my own point view that this arrangement would be far better than having 4 enclosures lying around. The other spare drives are kept in a box under my desk.

dkguill Loc: Elkhart, IN

WayneT wrote:

The reason most of us use enclosures is because they are usually hot swappable many of the docks are not.

I have used a Thermaltake docking station for years without incident. While mine is only USB compatible, they now offer USB 3 versions. I prefer the Duet model that accommodates two HDs.

https://www.amazon.com/Thermaltake-Drives-Docking-Station-ST0014U/dp/B01J4XNLN6?SubscriptionId=AKIAJ2F6RDUSIYCWQMFQ&tag=sa-b2c-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B002MUYOLW&th=1

I'm not sure, but I think mine is limited to 2TB drives max. I think they may have models that accommodate larger drives??? In my experience, this drive has been reliable for a L_O_N_G time.

rborud Loc: Minnesota

hj wrote:

Followed closely the thread today regarding hard drives and many folks suggested buying hard drives for backup and putting them in an enclosure. Nothing was said about using bare drives in a "dock" which allows quick changing from one drive to another.

HJ
Have been using open dock hard drives for years without any problems, they are most convenient. The docks I use are by Manhattan, they can duplicate drives free standing if needed, also very handy.
RBorud