that I can use to access and transfer the data in my old PC's HDD without having to fix it? The computer's busted, I think a shot power supply, and it's really not worth fixing just for the contents of the hard disk. Sorry if I missed something stupid or obvious, flaming more than welcome.

Thanks!

4/10/2008 6:10:12 PM

Are you looking to replace the HDD? Just take it out of your old computer, buy a HDD Enclosure, put the drive in it, plug it up to your computer's USB port ... and profit.

4/10/2008 6:17:30 PM

you want something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812232002

4/10/2008 6:21:08 PM

^ That should still work if the OS's are different, right? Both are windows machines. So with that adapter, all I need to do is pull the old HDD out of its bay, plug it into that little adapter and plug the USB into my current PC? I'm assuming it draws USB power?

4/10/2008 6:28:38 PM

yeah it'll work.

no more questions

go buy the damn thing already

and you can just put the hard drive in your current computer (assuming it's a desktop..if not, nvm) as a slave drive and be able to get to everything in the exact same way essentially.

but yea, usb enclosure is your easiest bet

[Edited on April 10, 2008 at 7:30 PM. Reason : asdf]

4/10/2008 7:29:31 PM

you had me up until "enclosure"


do you mean the device he linked to will work, no more questions? or what were you saying

treat me like the blithering idiot that I am

4/11/2008 12:21:52 AM

The short answer is "yes." Plug your old HD onto that device and plug it into a USB port and you can treat it just like a flash drive.

An enclosure is just a version of the linked item above that comes with its own metal/plastic case. You plug the HD on the IDE part, and the device ouputs to a USB port, where you plug it in.

It really is just that simple.

4/11/2008 2:19:18 AM

that's awesome



if I spend $20 on that adapter and it doesn't work, I'm going to steal all your secret underwear

4/11/2008 4:37:05 AM

i've got one of those that i used specifically for getting stuff off an old computer that was busted....worked like a charm

[Edited on April 11, 2008 at 4:54 AM. Reason : .]

4/11/2008 4:54:35 AM

You're trying to fap to those nakey pictures of me, aren't you?! :-P

4/11/2008 5:05:55 AM

it'll work

i was saying you might can get by without it

but for $20 it sounds like it'll be worth it for you (no offense)

4/11/2008 5:13:40 AM

i got one of these to add to my toolset.... it's a must-have for hard drive diagnosis & recovery... if you want a long-term useful solution, the external enclosure might suit you better as those bare USB adapters are really only best suited for a short time.

i have this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812156102

but the vantec is a lot cheaper and does IDE & SATA as well

[Edited on April 11, 2008 at 1:06 PM. Reason : .]

4/11/2008 12:55:58 PM

Just goto TigerDirect on Capital to get that, its $19 and then only damn thing in that store worth buying. Ohh yeah it wasnt refurbished either, like everything else in that store.

4/11/2008 2:17:54 PM

refurbished? hmmm, sounds like someone has not bothered to actually read before buying before. As I know every item I have bought there was in a retail box, marked as such, and not a refurb/repack. I have seen refurbed stuff for sale there, yes, but then you can find the same type stuff for sale as 'discount bin' stuff or 'customer returns' at more or less any bigbox store.

4/13/2008 7:47:02 PM