ATA versus SATA. or ATA and SATA

A computer we have at the Centre has a 250GB ATA HDD Master, we have been offered (free) a 250 GB SATA HDD that we would like to install as slave, (backup).
I think we have worked out the adaptor/s from IDE to SATA connections. any advice to stop us blowing this thing up would be helpful. Why has the SATA HDD a multi pin power connection as opposed to the 4 pin power plug on the ATA HDD. also the data connection has to be connected from 40 pin IDE to the SATA 7 pin data connection.
Will this work ?
Spanner.

 

Pete is right about the controller. I did this conversion on my old Motherboard.
You will need to source an IDE to SATA adapter with Software disc. Mine came with a 3" disc with the necessary software.
If the PSU wiring doesn't have the correct connector for the power supply for the SATA HD, you will have to source one of those.
You will need a SATA to SATA (female to female) cable. They are available from 25cm long to 40cm or longer.
The cable adapter is available to connect into the 4pin Molex power connectors in single or doubles.
I have all the necessary parts in front of me as I note them here. Neil.

 

There is some confusion here. There is no such thing as Master and Slave when it comes to SATA drives. That ONLY applies to EIDE (PATA, ATA) drives. That is because EIDE interfaces (the motherboard connection) and EIDE data cables support two drives per cable. So with EIDE the first (or only) drive is always the Master, and the second (if 2 are connected) is always the Slave (though both can be set to Cable Select to let the system automatically determine Master or Slave depending on cable connection used).

SATA drives, on the other hand, use one dedicated cable per drive so no Master or Slave setting is required.

If your motherboard is not too ancient, it may already support SATA drives. If not, you can use one of those converters, but if me, I would simply add a PCI to SATA adapter card. This particular one lets you connect 3 internal SATA drives and one external eSATA card.

Alternatively you can install this new SATA into a USB enclosure. Then you don't need to mess with data or power adapters.

If your motherboard is so old it does not have any integrated SATA support, then it must be pretty old. And in that case, it may be time to consider a full upgrade. Especially if running XP, which will cease being updated next April.