what connector goes to USB2.0 external HDD?

[Bob Michaels]

My significant other who is Cuban just asked me to bring her another data cable for an old USB 2.0 external 1T HDD I brought her years ago but I cannot remember what connector is used. The actual drive is probably a Seagate or WD but I remember just about all USB2.0 external HDDs used the same data connector, probably a mini B or micro B. 5 pin or 4 pin? Who knows which?

I have given away all the USB2.0 externals I once had. She is non technical and has no clue by looking at the connector. She can't go down to the local computer store and ask them and has no internet access only text e-mail so can't send me a photo. All those things that make this a no-brainer for you and me simply do not exist for her.

I know the computer end of the cable is Type A. Would someone who still has an old USB2.0 external HDD look at the data cable connector and tell me what it is?

 

[rbiemer]

I have and still use one of these and mine has a USB Mini-B 5 pin connection.
Maybe ask if the connection has "sharp" corners?
Rob
IMG_3046 by rbiemer, on Flickr

 

[BillBingham2]

This should cover her both ways.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Scosche-MMPRR-USB-to-Mini-Micro-USB-Retractable/16524212

Another options is smart phone picture.

B2 (;->

 

[Dwig]

...
I know the computer end of the cable is Type A. Would someone who still has an old USB2.0 external HDD look at the data cable connector and tell me what it is?

Some of the external USB 2.0 HDDs that I have use mini-B connectors, some use micro-B, and one very old one uses the original full-size B (typically seen on printers). There's no way to know which her drive uses without looking at the connector or having the brand name and exact model number and then hoping that the mfg. maintains good online info about the old drive.

 

[ptpdprinter]

Since portable HDDs used both micro and mini, take her one of each. The cables are inexpensive.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Since portable HDDs used both micro and mini, take her one of each. The cables are inexpensive.

Thanks for all the replies. You have convinced me that different connectors were used in spite of the fact that all the 250 and 500 mb plus a 1t external I had all used the same connector even though I cannot remember which it was.

I dug through my old cable and found micro, mini, and a original B connector so will bring one of each back to Cuba. Someone down there will use what my significant other does not.

 

[peterm1]

I hate the IT industry's tendency to change USB port designs about as frequently as I change my socks. (Which is pretty often).

It makes buying replacement cables a bloody nightmare. And it makes your kind of predicament more problematic. To make it worse there are proprietary connectors too for special purposes. I have a German car which uses a proprietary connector to allow hard drives to connect to the car's stereo system. Adapters are supposedly readily available but why they did not just use the full sized USB is a mystery (well not actually a mystery at all - it seems to be to force people to buy accessory adapters from them). I have bought 3 of these adapters online but none of them match my older micro USB style hard drive on which all my music is stored. The aim of the industry seems to be to force people to keep buying new hard drives.

Though I have to admit part of the problem too, is that I am less than satisfied with the competence and slack attitude of some Chinese based Ebay sellers who flog IT accessories - their tendency seems to think that if something only costs a few bucks and they don't have what you ordered to hand, they are more than happy to send you any old tosh in the expectation that you will never bother demanding your money back and even if you give them a bad rating their volume of sales is so high it does not matter.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!