Retrieving data from an old hard drive

by Mrjon3975 Feb 17, 2006 3:18PM PST

When my laptop fell off a table recently, it landed right on the power supply, causing the power suppply cord to be pushed into the case and broke the connection between the power supply and motherboard.
Due to the laptop's age (4-5yrs?), I bought a new desktop.

Since I can't power up the laptop, what do I need to do in order to retrieve the data from the laptop's harddrive and transfer it to my desktop?

Discussion is locked

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Lots of options

by VAPCMD Feb 17, 2006 3:44PM PST

Here's one device...note: you can probably get this cheaper elsewhere

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812156101

or you could use almost any external USB enclosure for a 2.5" HDD... then you'd be able use it as a portable USB drive later if desired. You can get full enclosures for less than the item above at Newegg...not sure why they're not competitive on the above product.

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Double check and questions

by Mrjon3975 Feb 17, 2006 4:26PM PST

Nice, looks simple enough. Let me double check tho. Plug the laptop's hard drive up to the adapter and plug it into the USB port on the desktop. Then switch the pins if needed, on my desktop hard drive to slave and I should be able to retrieve the data.

Couple questions tho. The laptop had ME OS installed and the desk top has XP. Does it matter if the hard drives have diff operating systems installed? And can the laptop's drive be read without having to temporarily switch the desktop to slave?

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Answers

by VAPCMD Feb 18, 2006 5:57AM PST

Just plug the adapter into the laptop drive and the AC power, boot the XP system and once it's up and running, plug in the laptop drive via the USB port...copy whatever you want need.

Then switch the pins if needed, on my desktop hard drive to slave and I should be able to retrieve the data.

FORGET THIS, NOT NECESSARY.

Does it matter if the hard drives have diff operating systems installed?

NOPE !

And can the laptop's drive be read without having to temporarily switch the desktop to slave?

YUP!

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Thanks

by Mrjon3975 Feb 18, 2006 6:12AM PST

Awesome, figured it wouldn't be a problem but need to pick peoples smarter than me's brain. I can do computers me!

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Thanks

by Mrjon3975 Feb 18, 2006 6:13AM PST

Awesome, figured it wouldn't be a problem but need to pick peoples smarter than me's brain. I can do computers me!

Retrieving data from an old hard drive

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