installing 3.5" HD in a 5.25" bay

[WillyW]

I need to install a regular ol' IDE hard drive.
Computer does not have a free 3.5 inch bay.
Does have a couple free 5.25 inch bays.

Years ago, they made an adapter kit for this.    (Were they called 'rails' ?)

I figured it would be a cheap item, so rather than fool with shipping, etc.,  I'd stop by a local computer shop next time I was nearby.

But,  I figured I'd check the price online anyway -  just to have an idea of what a fair price would be.   

Found:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811993004

It is $14 !!       

Not like fourteen bucks is the end of the world,  but I was expecting more like $5.     This is almost triple.

Then in the Customer Reviews,  I see a comment that Newegg is overpriced, and that a similar item is only $2 at Amazon.


My question:
What IS about the right price for what I need?

Thanks

[patio]

I would travel to all the local Computer repair shops in your area...some or most will give you a handful of them for 5 bucks...

[WillyW]

I would travel to all the local Computer repair shops in your area...some or most will give you a handful of them for 5 bucks...

Really?   That's better than I expected.
That's encouraging.

Heck,   then if I'm willing to pay a few bucks for one,  then I can't go wrong.


Only one shop is within 10 miles though.    I know of one more about 30 miles away.  Might be another in that town.
With the price of gas,   I'll hope the one close by has one laying around.   

Thanks

[homer]

the best and cheapest way to do it , IMO, would be zap straps.

[WillyW]

the best and cheapest way to do it , IMO, would be zap straps.

What are zap straps?

[homer]

[WillyW]

Ok, ok.   I'm used to referring to them as zip ties.


hmm.... this is very interesting.   (I'll comment in another post and explain)


Have you ever done this?     
Can you explain a bit about how you went about it?       

[WillyW]

I would travel to all the local Computer repair shops in your area...some or most will give you a handful of them for 5 bucks...

No luck at the local shop. 

The person I talked to was clueless.   It was apparent that he had no idea what I wanted, and was not about to try to figure it out.   
Eventually, he did go look on another shelf,  but I got the feeling that was just for show.

With a normal person, I might have asked if they had any old cases in the back that I could root through.     That would have gone over like a fart in church with this guy.     

He said "We don't have it" and walked away!       No "Can we order it for you?"  at all!       

[WillyW]

Fortunately,  I'm not in a jam for time.    Actually, I found the drive in some stuff around here -  I'd forgotten that I had it!

I would like to use it though.


New questions:

I've looked on the 'net and found something interesting.

First:
http://www.startech.com/Product/ItemDetail.aspx?productid=BRACKET&c=US
That's what I'm looking at.     
Is it what I need?

Next:
Using the vendor links from the above page, I found it here:
http://www.pcconnection.com/IPA/Shop/Product/Detail?SKU=4869053

It's only $2.19.

Then, there's the good ol' "hurry, buy now",   by offering free shipping until 1/31/08.
http://www.pcconnection.com/IPA/Content/Help/FreeShippingJan08.htm


So -  does anybody know anything about this vendor?   PC Connection
Ever buy anything from them?
The problem isn't the 2 bucks.  I'm just leery of online vendors.

Any comments about them will be appreciated.

[truenorth]

Willy W--there is another alternative--depending how handy you are --make one yourself. have done that a few times when i didn't happen to have one handy. truenorth

[homer]

Ok, ok.   I'm used to referring to them as zip ties.


hmm.... this is very interesting.   (I'll comment in another post and explain)


Have you ever done this?     
Can you explain a bit about how you went about it?       

i have never done it but if i needed to, off the top of my head, it would look something like this...

[file cleanup - saving space - attachment deleted by admin]

[WillyW]

i have never done it but if i needed to, off the top of my head, it would look something like this...

Looks like suspended, not strapped down.

Interesting.     I would not have ever thought of that.


Since I'm not in a real rush,  I'll wait a while and see if anyone has anything either good or bad to say about that vendor I mentioned.      If they are not crooks,  for a couple bucks I might as well get the adapter (assuming it is the right thing).

[patio]

They've been around since '82...whattya got to lose ?

 

[homer]

Looks like suspended, not strapped down.

it is suspended, it doesnt need to be strapped down as long as all four corners are secured.

they also make adapter screws that are used to place harddrives in 5.25" bays.

[WillyW]

They've been around since '82...whattya got to lose ?

 

My credit card number!       


They've been around that long, eh?
Well,  that's encouraging right there.   If they were a shady,  they'd have been long gone.
If you'd heard anything bad about them,  I'm assuming you would have said it too.   
Thanks.