Abstract: A portable storage device with a hard disk drive is reliably started up using only the power received through the interface cable, e.g., a USB cable. By not providing power to the internal circuit in the interface cable, e.g., the USB circuit in the USB cable, while the hard disk drive is starting up, a maximum amount of current may be supplied to the hard disk drive. Once the hard disk drive has started up, the internal circuit of the interface cable may then be electrically coupled to the power supply through the portable storage device. The power supply to the internal circuit of the interface cable need not be interrupted after the hard disk drive has started up, even when idling.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a housing in which is mounted a data storage unit, such as a hard disk drive. Pads serve as shock mounts at the corners of the data storage unit and separate the data storage unit and the housing. A flex circuit electrically couples the data storage unit and a connector at the front of the device. The flex circuit has, e.g., an “N” shape configuration, which advantageously provides flexibility in many directions. The data storage device may convert the number of pin connections from the data storage unit to a different number of pin connections. A docking module that receives the portable data storage device may also convert the number of pin connections from the data storage device to a different number of pin connections used by a host system. The docking module includes a slide for receiving and ejecting the portable data storage device.