Hard Drive Replacement for PC

I got this dock recently to replace one I had that died; I use a dock like this only when the internal dock in my desktop machine is busy or if I need to access a 3.5" drive with my notebook. I had some initial problems but Amazon and Anker stepped right up to make things right. This is the review I wrote:

I bought this to replace an older dock that died. The first one of these I received was DOA. I returned it and reordered it. The second one works fine on USB 3.0 but would not work on e-SATA. In fact, when e-SATA was connected I couldn't even get into disk management. I'm keeping it because I can use it on all my machines by using the USB connection but I wish I could have gotten e-SATA speeds. Fortunately, I will not need to use it very often.

Edit: After I wrote this review, Anker contacted me, asking if I would like to receive another dock free and return the faulty one on their dime; I accepted their generous offer. Unfortunately, the third dock still wouldn't work on e-SATA. My guess is, since my e-SATA port is connected to a LSI 9211-8i HBA card and my previous dock worked just fine on my e-SATA port, the Anker dock simply isn't compatible with e-SATA ports other than those connected to native SATA ports.

After reporting back to Anker that the third dock still failed to work on e-SATA but I would keep it since I can still use it on all my machines via USB, Anker responded with an offer to give me a 50% refund to compensate for the 50% loss in connectivity, an offer I happily accepted. I added two stars to my previous two star rating for Anker's outstanding customer support.

I might add, most people give this dock a five star rating. I was the only one to experience a DOA and no e-SATA connectivity (I'm just "lucky", I guess).

ignatzatsonic said:

...I had a scare last week--my 1.5 TB Green would not work in the dock. I thought the dock had died, but I put in another drive and it worked fine. So I guess I've got a dead Green---with absolutely no warning at all. It had worked fine in December and has been sitting in a closet since. When the dock is turned on, I hear 2 very faint beeps like the drive is trying to spin, but nothing happens.

Failures without warning happen, even to backup drives. That's why more than one backup drive is needed. Having more than one backup drive for each drive in my machine has saved my bacon data in the past.

ignatzatsonic said:

MJF: What docking stations do you use and recommend? Got a make and model number?

I have a Thermaltake BlacX Duet 5 - ST0022. Also a Vantec NextStar HDD Duplicator.
I use the Thermaltake all the time mainly for system imaging and cloning now and again. I think they have a single slot version.
The Vantec is just a backup device and probably a frivolous purchase. Not as good IMO as the Thermaltake for what I do and I didn't really need the Duplicator function. (Clone a drive independently of a PC).

Your WD Green failure is a disappointment.

Opinion =

No way would I buy a crucial over a Samsung, not when the prices are so close.

SSD 850 EVO 2.5" SATA III 120GB | Samsung Solid State Drives

SSD 850 EVO 2.5" SATA III 250GB | Samsung Solid State Drives

All you need is 1 sata data cable, and 1 motherboard port for each drive. You use the sata power cable from the power supply to power the drive/drives.

You connect the ssd you intend to install windows on, on the #1 sata port (6Gbps) on the motherboard. (all ports are labeled) Sata 0, sata 1 etc.

Some boards start with a 0, some start with 1. (check the MB manual) (it`s online if you don`t own it)

Only have the ssd connected when you install windows.

When you`re ready, just let us know.

No particular reason, I had a 128 OCZ for over a year until I got the Intel 180 GB, then the Samsung 250 GB.

You can use anything for backups, from a 500 to a 2 TB.

You can always add more drives in the future.

Rome wasn`t built in a day, it took at least 3