Have you tried a (THE) cable with 2) USB connections to the computer?
Some MBs (or computer cases) do not provide enough "juice" with the cable
supplied with the drive.
That would be my first step.

If it is actually not working, they "might be" a standard Laptop drive
inside, but someone else will have to tell you.
Depending on the age, it could have either interface.

I made mine with retired Laptop drives (less than a year old, upgrades)
and/or have a sealed Toshiba. (And a sealed Fuji, I think.)

In any case, (pun intended), they always work more dependably with the
2 headed power cord, OR a HIGH POWER (1000ma) USB port -Some
docking stations have them,  or a power "brick" (if there is an optional
input connector for it).  Some of my "empty cases" had that, and the Fuji
will take that if I buy it (additional), but comes with a "brick" socket to
USB cord "adaptor" since that was cheaper for them...

You are correct, POWER will be the biggest variable with a device
of this type.

Good luck,  Rick Glazier


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dean Kukral"
> Can the actual hard drive in an "external hard drive" such as a WD Passport be removed and placed in a desktop?
>
> Do they have a standard SATA (or IDE) interface?
>
> What kind of power connection do they have, SATA, Molex, or ?
>
> I am not concerned if they will physically fit in a desktop, only if they use standard connections.  I am mainly wondering if the
> extra circuitry on one goes bad, can you remove the hard drive from the case and use it in a desktop and/or recover data from it 
> on
> the desktop.
>
> Out of curiosity, are these made for low power?  It seems like hard drives take a lot of power (at least my Raptors do) and a USB
> interface would be a little short.

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