Connecting a WD800JD Hard Drive to a Compaq Presario PC

[Mark Hennessy]

And just to really confuse matters, there is another type - the so-called slimline SATA connector. This is a combined power and data plug.

It seems that this variation is mostly used for optical drives...

[Nick]

The reason they cover the pins is that if you use the SATA power connector, there is 5V & 12V on the legacy connector and the pins are not shielded (unlike the new SATA power connector).

Its for safety (stop them shorting on random stuff), that's all.

[Skywave]

Am I the only one who finds that the conventional IBM 4-pin plug and socket connectors are sometimes so difficult to get them to mate? When you're in the middle of a complex PC maintenance exercise, that sort of thing does not help!

Al.

[Refugee]

The type in post 11 looks like the correct one for that hard drive.

[Mark Hennessy]

The type in post 11 looks like the correct one for that hard drive.

The drive requires the standard power connector and a separate data connector as shown in posts #9 and #10. The "slimline" connector won't fit.