Koutech UCC221 USB 2.0 to IDE & SATA Converter

Pros: Over the course of 2 months, I've used the adaptor to reinstall the operating system from an ide dvd drive on a laptop that didn't have an optical drive (ide->usb mode); copy over 1 TB of data from an old software raid-1 array after one of the array's disks had failed (sata->esata mode); and rescue critical files from a solid-state sata drive while the machine that the drive belonged into was unusable (sata->usb mode).

It worked flawlessly every time, and worked out of the box with Linux (Gentoo 64-bit).

Cons: None really.

Other Thoughts: Lots of cables, so the setup takes a bit of desk space.

Pros: Plug and plays in Win 7 over USB cable. Drives plug and play on the device. Works with all my old disk drives in a pile. This plus DiskWipe and I am finally able to safely recycle these drives, storing any old data as needed, without opening up my computer. This was exactly the device I needed!

Cons: Not many, its pretty darn sweet. I couldnt get two drives to simultaneously mount on different interfaces (which would be nice for doing multiple disk wipes in parallel) but it does one at a time just fine. Mind you I have only had it for two days so maybe there is a trick to doing two disks that I just dont know.

Pros: Works great as a plug and play adapter for both IDE and SATA drives...if the drive is fine, then you now have a hot-swappable external adapter. Pretty sweet.

Cons: I have a few drives that need some work, aren't easily detected, etc. (i.e. they're old and dying). Other reviews had suggested this device would work as well as putting them into a bay for detection/fixing...this is not true. A few were detectable, but mostly no. But for drives that already work, this thing works just like you'd expect it to.

Other Thoughts: A little bit unwieldy. Lots of cables.

Pros: I have two of these devices
I have used them many hundred of times and
they have never let me down

Cons: None

Other Thoughts: I wish the power cord was little less bulky
But this minor

Pros: Consolidates cables allowing 2.5"/3.5" IDE and SATA drives. The device itself is nice and small.

Cons: None so far.

Pros: awsome product you can pretty much connect any hardrive! Awsome little tool to have when you have a side job and can easily extract customers files when the drive is in tact and the os just crashes

Cons: none but standard usb 2.0 transfer.wich i could utilize the e-sata but dont have the inteface yet

Pros: did what I bought it for as i was able to recover files on a crashed hard drive

Cons: none

Other Thoughts: I bought this to recover files on a crashed hard drive for a toshiba lap top. Non Toshiba computers would recognize the hard drive but wouldn't read the hard drive. Once I got the replacement toshiba hard drive and hooked it up to my lap top, I was able to recover all files on crashed hard drive.

Pros: Can connect to both laptop and desktop sized ATA and SATA drives. (I haven't tested the SATA side)

Has it's own power supply, and a power switch on the device itself.

Doesn't need extra drivers, it was simple plug and play on the XP and Vista machines I've used it with so far.

Cons: The power switch is easy to switch on by accident while trying to remove a drive. You don't want to do that.

Uses the typical 4-pin molex power plug we all know and love. It's not at all ideal for a "quick" hookup and removal. It's especially difficult with a loose drive that isn't anchored into a case. You have to balance your pulling force with the risk of inadvertently throwing it across the room.
It would have been a nice touch if they came up with a connector that's easier to extract from the drive.

The 2.5" ATA adapter is a flimsy hack setup.
To protect the pins in storage, I suggest sticking them through some styrofoam.

Other Thoughts: I've so far used this with 3 desktop ATA drives, and 1 2.5" laptop ATA drive.

1 desktop ATA drive works fine on it's own but didn't detect on this device, not sure why not. Maybe a fluke and I just need to try it again.
The 2nd worked fine.
The 3rd couldn't spin up, obviously a bad drive.

The 2.5" laptop drive was the immediate reason I bought this (dead laptop, needed files). It had 2 partitions and both were detected without issue. I copied the whole drive and checked a few important small files, but didn't do a CRC or any full scale integrity check.


PSU output is +5V @ 2.0A, and +12V @ 2.0A.
Obviously that's not a simple barrel connector, and there's 2 voltage rails being supplied. So replacing this PSU would be somewhat difficult.
However, this setup means the unit itself runs cool, since it doesn't need to regulate the separate voltages internally.

Pros: Easy to use and functions as expected. Well worth the extra cost. Well thought out design. Highly recommended.

Cons: Knocked off one egg for the power supply. Would prefer it to be more compact.

Other Thoughts: Quit working after about 14 months. Not sure if it's the power supply of the device itself. Will be buying another one soon though. I have looked at other options and keep coming back to this one.
Extended warranty???

Pros: Does everything is claims to and does it pretty well too. I really like the on/off button on the device.

Cons: Can't complain about to much, if anything I would have to say I don't like having to keep up with the cables.

Other Thoughts: This is a good tool for 99.9% of hard drives out there today. I don't think anyone would be disappointed in this product.