D-Bay adaptor or connector?????

Received a reply from Dell as follows:

Hello Chris,

This model was not built with the Dbay as an option. The D-Bay is a powered USB bay and connects to a proprietary connector. It looks like a dual USB port, but the top port is not a USB port. To use the drive in other models you will need to get a hard drive carrier that is compatible.

Respectfully,
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I then replied with the below, can anyone help me out with that?

Thanks. I understand that so that leads to my real questions (since those models don't directly support the D-bay):

1. Is there an adaptor or other kind of connector that would allow a D-bay to be hooked up to any other device (since we now have a lot of USB powered peripherals this would seem to be something that could be done)? or

2. Is there some other/more standard enclosure out there that the Dell drives that fit into the D-bay could fit into? If so, anyone have any suggestions or ideas on it?






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@cwilliams222 wrote:
I had a D800 with an external D-bay and a couple of hard drives to use.

Then I upgraded to a D810 and the actual laptop doesn't have a way to directly connect the D-bay to it, you have to connect it to the port replicator/docking station (I believe this is because the cord/connector for the D-bay is some sort of proprietary type - something that uses 2 USB ports specifically setup).

Well, now I'm getting an even newer laptop.....so how do I not lose my investment in the modular hard drives I used on my D800/D810 using the D-bay and its weird connector?

Is there:

a. A connector or adaptor that takes the proprietary connector for the D-bay and makes it work on any PC? or

b. Some other enclosure that will work on any other laptop and take the modular/secondary hard drives that fit into the D-bay/modular bay on a D8XX series of laptops?

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Technically the DBay port on Latitude Laptops isn't proprietary in any way shape or manner. Its just a not-often-seen USB+Power port. The Only systems I've seen with these ports aside from Dell Latitudes has been Point of Sale computers. These ports are generally used to power receipt printers and pole displays and devices of that nature (reduces the number of power outlets needed for the system, and number of cables). I've seen them in 5V and 12V flavor.....However, I have yet to see any regular desktop PC or other Laptop come with these ports. It would be possible to modify one of these connectors into a Desktop PC by tapping into the Power Supply's 5V rail. Laptops though usually don't have 5V power rails that are easily tapped.

so it is possible, just no one has done it?

good to now, just doesn't help me out too much. I was really hoping someone by now would have come up with some sort of adaptor/connector that would help, especially if Dell is moving away from this type of connector, there could be a lot of people who get stuck with a lot of peripherals that are (or will be) totally useless.

thanks