Removable IDE Drive

I have a USB 2.0 external hard drive that I use for portable storage (in Windows 98se). It uses an IDE hard drive and connects through a USB port.
It's pretty simple to swap out the hard drive so I can use a couple of older, smaller drives to store backups - but I've got to take the cover off the usb enclosure and handle the drives when I do that.
I just ordered (haven't got it yet) a removable ide drive kit - the type with the hot-swap drawer that slides out. I got the $20 plastic version with a couple of spare $8 drawers.
I'm wondering if I can install the removable bay into the external usb enclosure (it will fit) to make it easier to change hard drives. I'm also wondering if I can install an ide zip drive into the removable unit and connect it through the usb device.
Anyone have experience with this? thanks, Jim
p.s. the usb 2.0 external drive kit (HDD not included) costs between $60 and $150 US. The $60 one works great.

4. RE: Removable IDE Drive
lbyard May-30-02 03:13 PM
In response to message 0

I don't see why you can't do it. The IDE interface will not "know " that you have. I do not know how the zip drive will behave, however. If you have to restart the computer to change drives on USB, it is a desktop computer, and you have room and a place to plug it in, I would put the kit in the computer where the drives will be faster. I use a network and old computers to accommodate more drives. Larry