Tech, Tools, and Tips! #5 - The USB 3.0 to SATA & IDE Hard Drive converter

Why would anyone need a USB to SATA/IDE hard drive converter anyway?

Let's just say you have an old computer that you haven't used in decades then you and a friend start talking about the good old days when you used to acquire music and movie files from apps like Limewire, Napster, Emule, Bearshare and Bittorrent. You could also get pictures from way back in the day! You dig the old PC out of storage, plug it up, hit the power button and nothing. Your no PC technician so you just put it back in the closet and forget about it for another decade. Or you could take this simple tool and extract your data from the hard drive from the old computer. Music, pictures, and Movies! Get ready for a blast from the past!

All you need is this USB to SATA/IDE hard drive converter, a working computer/laptop, and a 120V wall plug in. A USB thumb drive is optional if you want to move your files to it instead of on your computer.

After you have connected it to your laptop, turn it on and you can see your old hard drive like you would see regular files on a thumb drive.

You might even ask friends, parents, or siblings if you want them to recover their old files.

Below I have added a video to better understand what this converter can do. In the video they use a Ugreen converter. Multiple companies make these converters/adapters. Let me know if you found this article helpful. Now check out the video below and see if this is a tool you could use.

USB 3.0 to SATA & IDE Hard drive converter review and demonstration

https://youtu.be/32GLFvd0IA4?si=GqLpzYVPpa1EO68i

ROV Pilot Technicians & 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.