[OziMac]

I want to copy some data off an SSD taken from a now-malfunctioning Dell Mini 9 - what is the best tool to use for this purpose? Are there any external cases or readers than can interface with these SSDs?

The interface looks something like mini PCI-e, but I'm not exactly sure.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Brains]

I'm not 100% certain what would have been used as an interface, but as there's only a very very small number of interface formats SSD modules come in, I'd put good money on it being the "Toshiba 1.8". In that case, you want either one of Darkwire's Toshiba 1.8” HDD / CF Card to 3.5” IDE Adapters for $15.95:



... or if the module uses a "ZIF" connector, one of their ZIF to 3.5” IDE Adapters for $16.95:




... and a normal external enclosure that can take a 3.5" 40-pin-IDE hard drive.

[OziMac]

Thanks Brains - fwiw, it looks like this:



Anyone in Melbourne - know of anywhere similar to Darkwire that I might be get it from in person?

[Brains]

I get a "You do not have permission to access this document." trying to view that image.

Darkwire is the only supplier of those in Australia, and they are in Melbourne and whilst the chap who runs it doesn't have a store-front, doesn't mind people swinging by to collect things if you contact him beforehand.

[OziMac]

Cool, I may have to give him a ring - here's another pic Brains, I'm just trying to figure out if it's the right interface or not:

http://eeepc.net/wp-content/uploads/...shd-di9m_t.jpg

[Brains]

... what? That's MiniPCIe. That's bloody stupid. You're not going to find a simple adaptor for that, unfortunately, you're going to need to find another working Mini 9 so you can get the data off, by the looks of it.

(Absolute brainboggle, i wasn't even aware anyone whould be stupid enough to do this, even Asus stick with a normal IDE variant for their modules!)

[bennyling]

The thing about the Mini9's is that they have a couple of mini-PCIe slots - roughly 4 or so, I think.

Sure, it's not really standards based, but it'd be useful to have a couple in a Macbook, for example - then you'd be able to have an SSD boot drive, with a normal drive for all your data and stuff

As it stands, I don't think I'd be willing to sacrifice my wireless for an SSD even if I could (which I can't anyway, so the point is moot).

[~Coxy]

They definitely do make adaptors, see MP1*Mini PCI-E / PCI-E adapter.

I don't know where you'd buy one from though, or if it would even work once you had it. The RunCore SSD that people use on their Dells has a handy mini-USB socket on it.

[leon]

If the airport cards inside Macbooks etc are Mini PCI-e, could you just stick this drive into that slot and have it magically work?

[Brains]

Coxy, by adaptor I was referring to something which could let him use USB and/or IDE to communicate with it, not something to make a small slot-interface into its larger brother

[~Coxy]

That adaptor actually does have a USB port on it, but again it's unknown whether it would let you read off a SSD like it was a USB mass storage device.