Old hard drive on broken computer to new hard drive.

[doesnothaveaclue]

First of all, I am completely new to the inner workings of a computer and this has problem has probably been posted a few times.

 

My old PC broke, a dell desktop on windows XP, the local man at my shop quoted me around 180 to get this fixed due to an issue with the fan, so I decided to just buy a brand new acer laptop instead.

 

The laptop I have now is run on windows vista but I want to recover the music/pictures I had saved up on the old PC throughout the years.

 

Now can this be done although the old PC does not start anymore? And if I do this do I have to dismantle the PC to find the Hard drive to plug it into my new laptop?

 

And the fact that both are different running systems will that make this impossible to do?

 

Basically is there any chance of recovering the data from the old hard drive or will it forever be in a hardware graveyard?

 

And this is a question a bit of topic but if the hard drive can/cannot be recovered, any suggestions on what to do with an broken computer that I have no use for?

 

Thank you in advance for any replies :)

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, and a welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help from me, as I know you have another issue elsewhere.

 

First is a word you will like and it is YES.

It will of course involve removing the hard drive from the broken machine first, though if you know which end of a screwdriver to hold, it is quite easy to do.:D

 

Next is to buy either an adapter, or for a little more expense an enclosure, sometimes called a caddy.

These will connect the old hard drive to a USB connection on your laptop, which you can then use to access all files and documents on that drive.

 

Here is an adapter as an example=

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bipra-SATA-Adapter-Power-Drive/dp/B001A5SK56

 

As yet I don't know if your old hard drive is the older IDE standard or the newer SATA standard, however with that kit it will connect to either.

 

If however once you have retrieved all the data you want from it, and then wish use it as an external hard drive as extra storage space, it may be better to obtain a caddy.

 

Here is one,

 

http://www.ebuyer.com/store/Storage/cat/Hard-Drive-Accessories/subcat/Caddies-&-Enclosures

 

though a search around most retailers will possibly find one cheaper, but you maybe will need to know if the hard drive is IDE, or SATA.

 

To find out is quite easy, once you have opened the old computer and found the hard drive, the data cable (Not the power) gives a very big clue, IDE is a broad flat cable, usually grey in colour and about an inch and a half wide, If it is SATA the cable is much smaller, may still be flat, but is only around half an inch wide.

 

You may get lucky and find an enclosure that will work with either IDE or SATA, but they are usually more expensive.

 

If needing help in finding the hard drive within the old computer let us know, we can help with that.

 

Also once you have removed the hard drive and need to get rid of the remains of the computer, most council run waste disposal sites will take it.

 

Nev.

[doesnothaveaclue]

Thank you for the detailed reply. I will probably use one of the big computer hardware stores (PC World, Comet (If Comet is still open that is, might be Curry's I am thinking about) over the next couple of days to pick up a caddie.

 

And I will let you know if any complications arise.

 

Again thank you for the advice, without it I may have lost pictures/memories forever!

 

Thanks :)

[Plastic Nev]

Hi I would remove the drive first before going for a caddy locally, that way you will know which type, IDE or SATA to buy.

 

Nev.

[KenB]

Hi

 

To identify which hard drive you have .....

 

click here

[doesnothaveaclue]

Thank you for the help, I will be opening the tower in the next couple of days as I have a pretty busy week and no tools to speak of to open it, only posting this before hitting the sack as not to seem rude! :)

 

Again thanks for the help!

[Plastic Nev]

That's OK, let us know how you get on and don't hesitate to ask if needing help in dismantling stuff, as and when you get time to do it.

 

Nev.