Tech, Tools, and Tips! #4 - The Insignia Dual Hard Drive docking station

May 7, 2025 - The Insignia Dual Hard Drive Docking Station

I'm going to begin this blog with a handy little tool I use around the house. The Insignia Dual Hard Drive Docking Station. This gadget comes in handy if your hard disk drive in your computer is giving you error messages and making noises letting you know it's about to die. This device allows you to clone your drive to a brand new solid state drive or another disk drive, whatever floats your boat. I used software called 4DDiG Partition Manager to clone the HDD to the SSD. The instructions were on the Partition Managers website and it went easy as 1, 2, 3. The cloning process does take a hot minute depending on how much you have on your drive. So if you need a exact copy of a drive here is your tool.

If you have old computers around the house go ahead and pull the hard drives out and stick them in the docking station. Bam! You have access to old picture, videos, and documents you haven't seen in 10 years. It also has a USB 3.0 port on the back for quick transfer. And that's your tech tool of the day! Please leave comments if you use it. I'd like to know what other software that you may use with it. L8r!

Here is a video on how to use The Insignia Dual Hard Drive Docking Station:

https://youtu.be/6qEoJlyhzr0?si=23ujoauXWVqQLJCx

ROV P/Ts & tech!

As a ROV Pilot Technician we not only have to pilot ROVs we have to repair and maintain them. If you ever have to go to an interview outside of the ROV field the interviewer's mind is blown on the task we have to perform. They are dumbfounded after you finish telling them that you can troubleshoot a node/subsea computer, terminate fiber optics, change out a hydraulic motor and that's in the pouring down rain in 30 degree weather under a tarp, we install and operate audio/video equipment including DVR with a RAID setup, can frankenfix just about any type of communication adapter, plumb up hydraulic lines from valve packs to numerous subsea tools, etc... And that ain't even the tip of the iceberg what we can do! We are mechanics, electricians, plumbers, IT techs, secretaries, inventory clerks, counselors, photographers, riggers, janitors, fabricators, and sometimes even cooks when the vessels or installations are crewed down. The guys I have worked with over the years would blown your mind on the things they can accomplish.

Remember to bring pictures and videos to an interview because most of the interviewers don't understand or in disbelief. You have to remind them that it's a remotely operated vehicle - keyword: remotely, we don't go subsea with it! 

Moving along to the topic of the blog. Technology. Most of us ROV guys love technology so I figured I'd do a blog about gadgets, gear, software, and whatever has to do with technology.