USB to ATA/Tapi Device

[Hikertrash]

I'm a little confused over the differences.

In device manager my laptop's HDD is listed as a "ATA device" there's also two "USB device" externals, as well as a "ATA device" external.

Under the safe remove hardware icon in the notification area, the ATA is listed as ATA, the two USB (under device manager) are listed as "USB to ATA/Tapi Bridge".

What's a USB to ATA/Tapi Device, and why are two almost identical Seagate drives listed differently?

 

[bassfisher6522]

Depending on the age of the laptop...you either have SATA or a PATA hard drive. See here...Differences between IDE, PATA and SATA Cables

I believe that what you are seeing are the controllers for the drives.

 

[Hikertrash]

Here's what I'm seeing with a WD Passport, rather than an sata HDD in an external enclosure as I mentioned above.

I should point out one of the Seagate's has a eSata connection/enclosure and is listed as an ATA device. I guess I can understand that. What I'm not sure of is the ATA/Atapi bridge.

Tha laptop is nearly two years old. Except for the Passpot all the HDD's are drives put in enclosures that I've taken out of my last two laptops when upgrading to a bigger drive.

Since they all appear to be working it's not a big deal.