As a computer service technician, I know for certainty that having the right tools for the job is essential to a speedy and profitable repair. Little gizmos like power supply testers and a digital multimeter can help to rule out or diagnose problems in a fraction of the time. One problem I have always run into is testing hard drives, as you usually need another system to test them out in. This often leads to a congested workbench, crammed with testing systems for IDE, SATA, and laptops for the smaller form factors. Today we take a look at a solution to this problem offered by Vantec, the NexStar Universal Storage Adapter.


This storage accessory comes adequately packaged with no unnecessary frills, but all the attachments you will need for the job. Inside the box we find the NexStar Universal Storage Adapter, the Users Manual, a 5" SATA data cable, as well as a 4-pin Molex-to-SATA power adapter cable. Also inside the box is a 12v/5v power adapter that gives you the ability to turn a wall outlet into a Molex power source. This adapter has an in-line on/off switch to avoid causing short-circuits while hot-swapping. I can think of many uses for this item alone!


Looking at the Vantec NexStar Universal Storage Adapter, it measures about 5 1/2" long by 2 1/4" wide with a thickness of a little more than 1/2". It has seven inputs marked XD, SD, 2.5", SATA, 3.5"/5.25",MS and CF. The output is a 30" long USB cable with two tips, one for data transfer and the second throughput connector for additional power through the USB interface. The unit has two indicator lights, one for power and the other to indicate data transfer activity.