My XP computer died. I replaced it with a Vista PC. Since the old
machine simply died (never could get it back to the desktop), I was
unable to copy/back up my files. Stupid me, I know. Should've been
doing back ups all along.

My question is this: In my new computer (Gateway GT5432) there is
what appears to be a slot or space where I could insert my old drive.
Can I do this safely (for the purposes of getting my old pics, docs,
music transferred to my new HDD)?

I have removed my old HDD (it's sitting on my desk now).

If anyone knows how to do this, and can explain it in fairly simple
steps, I would really, really appreciate your help!

Thanks!

If your old PC stopped due to a failed hard drive then you are unlikely to
be able to recover anything.

The simplest way, for the uninitiated, would be to buy a hard drive external
caddy, fit the hd, and connect via usb / firewire

Otherwise you would probably advised to set the jumper on the hd to slave -
a series of small pins next to the main cable connector, there is usually a
graphic on the drive showing various pin connections.
Connect the ide cable (about 4cm wide) - I'm assuming a none sata drive
All with the PC power supply disconnected, then reboot
If it fails to reboot, either the connections are wrong or the hd has failed


<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> My XP computer died. I replaced it with a Vista PC. Since the old
> machine simply died (never could get it back to the desktop), I was
> unable to copy/back up my files. Stupid me, I know. Should've been
> doing back ups all along.
>
> My question is this: In my new computer (Gateway GT5432) there is
> what appears to be a slot or space where I could insert my old drive.
> Can I do this safely (for the purposes of getting my old pics, docs,
> music transferred to my new HDD)?
>
> I have removed my old HDD (it's sitting on my desk now).
>
> If anyone knows how to do this, and can explain it in fairly simple
> steps, I would really, really appreciate your help!
>
> Thanks!
>

On Jul 30, 9:38 am, "DL" <address@invalid> wrote:
> If your old PC stopped due to a failed hard drive then you are unlikely to
> be able to recover anything.
>
> The simplest way, for the uninitiated, would be to buy a hard drive external
> caddy, fit the hd, and connect via usb / firewire
>
> Otherwise you would probably advised to set the jumper on the hd to slave -
> a series of small pins next to the main cable connector, there is usually a
> graphic on the drive showing various pin connections.
> Connect the ide cable (about 4cm wide) - I'm assuming a none sata drive
> All with the PC power supply disconnected, then reboot
> If it fails to reboot, either the connections are wrong or the hd has failed
>
> <2...@cox.net> wrote in message
>
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
>
> > My XP computer died. I replaced it with a Vista PC. Since the old
> > machine simply died (never could get it back to the desktop), I was
> > unable to copy/back up my files. Stupid me, I know. Should've been
> > doing back ups all along.
>
> > My question is this: In my new computer (Gateway GT5432) there is
> > what appears to be a slot or space where I could insert my old drive.
> > Can I do this safely (for the purposes of getting my old pics, docs,
> > music transferred to my new HDD)?
>
> > I have removed my old HDD (it's sitting on my desk now).
>
> > If anyone knows how to do this, and can explain it in fairly simple
> > steps, I would really, really appreciate your help!
>
> > Thanks!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I've set the jumpers on my old HD to "slave" (remove the plastic
bridge to make the jumpers match the diagram. Next, I opened up the
side panel on my new machine. While there is a space (next to the
existing HDD), and a female connector, it (the connector) isn't the
same type as the male pins on my old HDD.

I did, however, find a female connector on a grey ribbon. The
connector marries up with the pins on my old HDD. This connector,
though, is in the middle of the ribbon that leads from my CD drive.
Unsure whether it was okay to plug my old drive into it, I decided not
to do so. Instead, I closed up the computer and thought I would post
this note to see if I could get a little more guidance.

Any thoughts?

Thank you for your first reply!

Mark

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> On Jul 30, 9:38 am, "DL" <address@invalid> wrote:
>
>>If your old PC stopped due to a failed hard drive then you are unlikely to
>>be able to recover anything.
>>
>>The simplest way, for the uninitiated, would be to buy a hard drive external
>>caddy, fit the hd, and connect via usb / firewire
>>
>>Otherwise you would probably advised to set the jumper on the hd to slave -
>>a series of small pins next to the main cable connector, there is usually a
>>graphic on the drive showing various pin connections.
>>Connect the ide cable (about 4cm wide) - I'm assuming a none sata drive
>>All with the PC power supply disconnected, then reboot
>>If it fails to reboot, either the connections are wrong or the hd has failed
>>
>><2...@cox.net> wrote in message
>>
>>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>My XP computer died. I replaced it with a Vista PC. Since the old
>>>machine simply died (never could get it back to the desktop), I was
>>>unable to copy/back up my files. Stupid me, I know. Should've been
>>>doing back ups all along.
>>
>>>My question is this: In my new computer (Gateway GT5432) there is
>>>what appears to be a slot or space where I could insert my old drive.
>>>Can I do this safely (for the purposes of getting my old pics, docs,
>>>music transferred to my new HDD)?
>>
>>>I have removed my old HDD (it's sitting on my desk now).
>>
>>>If anyone knows how to do this, and can explain it in fairly simple
>>>steps, I would really, really appreciate your help!
>>
>>>Thanks!- Hide quoted text -
>>
>>- Show quoted text -
>
>
> I've set the jumpers on my old HD to "slave" (remove the plastic
> bridge to make the jumpers match the diagram. Next, I opened up the
> side panel on my new machine. While there is a space (next to the
> existing HDD), and a female connector, it (the connector) isn't the
> same type as the male pins on my old HDD.
>
> I did, however, find a female connector on a grey ribbon. The
> connector marries up with the pins on my old HDD. This connector,
> though, is in the middle of the ribbon that leads from my CD drive.
> Unsure whether it was okay to plug my old drive into it, I decided not
> to do so. Instead, I closed up the computer and thought I would post
> this note to see if I could get a little more guidance.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Thank you for your first reply!
>
> Mark
>

That would make it the "Slave" on the IDE subsystem with the CD drive
being the master.

On Jul 30, 11:04 am, Bob I <bire...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 2...@cox.net wrote:
> > On Jul 30, 9:38 am, "DL" <address@invalid> wrote:
>
> >>If your old PC stopped due to a failed hard drive then you are unlikely to
> >>be able to recover anything.
>
> >>The simplest way, for the uninitiated, would be to buy a hard drive external
> >>caddy, fit the hd, and connect via usb / firewire
>
> >>Otherwise you would probably advised to set the jumper on the hd to slave -
> >>a series of small pins next to the main cable connector, there is usually a
> >>graphic on the drive showing various pin connections.
> >>Connect the ide cable (about 4cm wide) - I'm assuming a none sata drive
> >>All with the PC power supply disconnected, then reboot
> >>If it fails to reboot, either the connections are wrong or the hd has failed
>
> >><2...@cox.net> wrote in message
>
> >>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> >>>My XP computer died. I replaced it with a Vista PC. Since the old
> >>>machine simply died (never could get it back to the desktop), I was
> >>>unable to copy/back up my files. Stupid me, I know. Should've been
> >>>doing back ups all along.
>
> >>>My question is this: In my new computer (Gateway GT5432) there is
> >>>what appears to be a slot or space where I could insert my old drive.
> >>>Can I do this safely (for the purposes of getting my old pics, docs,
> >>>music transferred to my new HDD)?
>
> >>>I have removed my old HDD (it's sitting on my desk now).
>
> >>>If anyone knows how to do this, and can explain it in fairly simple
> >>>steps, I would really, really appreciate your help!
>
> >>>Thanks!- Hide quoted text -
>
> >>- Show quoted text -
>
> > I've set the jumpers on my old HD to "slave" (remove the plastic
> > bridge to make the jumpers match the diagram. Next, I opened up the
> > side panel on my new machine. While there is a space (next to the
> > existing HDD), and a female connector, it (the connector) isn't the
> > same type as the male pins on my old HDD.
>
> > I did, however, find a female connector on a grey ribbon. The
> > connector marries up with the pins on my old HDD. This connector,
> > though, is in the middle of the ribbon that leads from my CD drive.
> > Unsure whether it was okay to plug my old drive into it, I decided not
> > to do so. Instead, I closed up the computer and thought I would post
> > this note to see if I could get a little more guidance.
>
> > Any thoughts?
>
> > Thank you for your first reply!
>
> > Mark
>
> That would make it the "Slave" on the IDE subsystem with the CD drive
> being the master.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Bob,

Will connecting the old hard drive to the IDE connector (that is
located mid-ribbon) allow me to view the old HDD? Any danger in this
type of temporary configuration?

Thanks,

mark

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:

> On Jul 30, 11:04 am, Bob I <bire...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>2...@cox.net wrote:
>>
>>>On Jul 30, 9:38 am, "DL" <address@invalid> wrote:
>>
>>>>If your old PC stopped due to a failed hard drive then you are unlikely to
>>>>be able to recover anything.
>>
>>>>The simplest way, for the uninitiated, would be to buy a hard drive external
>>>>caddy, fit the hd, and connect via usb / firewire
>>
>>>>Otherwise you would probably advised to set the jumper on the hd to slave -
>>>>a series of small pins next to the main cable connector, there is usually a
>>>>graphic on the drive showing various pin connections.
>>>>Connect the ide cable (about 4cm wide) - I'm assuming a none sata drive
>>>>All with the PC power supply disconnected, then reboot
>>>>If it fails to reboot, either the connections are wrong or the hd has failed
>>
>>>><2...@cox.net> wrote in message
>>
>>>>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>>>>My XP computer died. I replaced it with a Vista PC. Since the old
>>>>>machine simply died (never could get it back to the desktop), I was
>>>>>unable to copy/back up my files. Stupid me, I know. Should've been
>>>>>doing back ups all along.
>>
>>>>>My question is this: In my new computer (Gateway GT5432) there is
>>>>>what appears to be a slot or space where I could insert my old drive.
>>>>>Can I do this safely (for the purposes of getting my old pics, docs,
>>>>>music transferred to my new HDD)?
>>
>>>>>I have removed my old HDD (it's sitting on my desk now).
>>
>>>>>If anyone knows how to do this, and can explain it in fairly simple
>>>>>steps, I would really, really appreciate your help!
>>
>>>>>Thanks!- Hide quoted text -
>>
>>>>- Show quoted text -
>>
>>>I've set the jumpers on my old HD to "slave" (remove the plastic
>>>bridge to make the jumpers match the diagram. Next, I opened up the
>>>side panel on my new machine. While there is a space (next to the
>>>existing HDD), and a female connector, it (the connector) isn't the
>>>same type as the male pins on my old HDD.
>>
>>>I did, however, find a female connector on a grey ribbon. The
>>>connector marries up with the pins on my old HDD. This connector,
>>>though, is in the middle of the ribbon that leads from my CD drive.
>>>Unsure whether it was okay to plug my old drive into it, I decided not
>>>to do so. Instead, I closed up the computer and thought I would post
>>>this note to see if I could get a little more guidance.
>>
>>>Any thoughts?
>>
>>>Thank you for your first reply!
>>
>>>Mark
>>
>>That would make it the "Slave" on the IDE subsystem with the CD drive
>>being the master.- Hide quoted text -
>>
>>- Show quoted text -
>
>
> Bob,
>
> Will connecting the old hard drive to the IDE connector (that is
> located mid-ribbon) allow me to view the old HDD? Any danger in this
> type of temporary configuration?
>
> Thanks,
>
> mark
>

Yes, it will, and no it shouldn't. It doesn't even have to be temporary.

On Jul 30, 11:57 am, Bob I <bire...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 2...@cox.net wrote:
> > On Jul 30, 11:04 am, Bob I <bire...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >>2...@cox.net wrote:
>
> >>>On Jul 30, 9:38 am, "DL" <address@invalid> wrote:
>
> >>>>If your old PC stopped due to a failed hard drive then you are unlikely to
> >>>>be able to recover anything.
>
> >>>>The simplest way, for the uninitiated, would be to buy a hard drive external
> >>>>caddy, fit the hd, and connect via usb / firewire
>
> >>>>Otherwise you would probably advised to set the jumper on the hd to slave -
> >>>>a series of small pins next to the main cable connector, there is usually a
> >>>>graphic on the drive showing various pin connections.
> >>>>Connect the ide cable (about 4cm wide) - I'm assuming a none sata drive
> >>>>All with the PC power supply disconnected, then reboot
> >>>>If it fails to reboot, either the connections are wrong or the hd has failed
>
> >>>><2...@cox.net> wrote in message
>
> >>>>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> >>>>>My XP computer died. I replaced it with a Vista PC. Since the old
> >>>>>machine simply died (never could get it back to the desktop), I was
> >>>>>unable to copy/back up my files. Stupid me, I know. Should've been
> >>>>>doing back ups all along.
>
> >>>>>My question is this: In my new computer (Gateway GT5432) there is
> >>>>>what appears to be a slot or space where I could insert my old drive.
> >>>>>Can I do this safely (for the purposes of getting my old pics, docs,
> >>>>>music transferred to my new HDD)?
>
> >>>>>I have removed my old HDD (it's sitting on my desk now).
>
> >>>>>If anyone knows how to do this, and can explain it in fairly simple
> >>>>>steps, I would really, really appreciate your help!
>
> >>>>>Thanks!- Hide quoted text -
>
> >>>>- Show quoted text -
>
> >>>I've set the jumpers on my old HD to "slave" (remove the plastic
> >>>bridge to make the jumpers match the diagram. Next, I opened up the
> >>>side panel on my new machine. While there is a space (next to the
> >>>existing HDD), and a female connector, it (the connector) isn't the
> >>>same type as the male pins on my old HDD.
>
> >>>I did, however, find a female connector on a grey ribbon. The
> >>>connector marries up with the pins on my old HDD. This connector,
> >>>though, is in the middle of the ribbon that leads from my CD drive.
> >>>Unsure whether it was okay to plug my old drive into it, I decided not
> >>>to do so. Instead, I closed up the computer and thought I would post
> >>>this note to see if I could get a little more guidance.
>
> >>>Any thoughts?
>
> >>>Thank you for your first reply!
>
> >>>Mark
>
> >>That would make it the "Slave" on the IDE subsystem with the CD drive
> >>being the master.- Hide quoted text -
>
> >>- Show quoted text -
>
> > Bob,
>
> > Will connecting the old hard drive to the IDE connector (that is
> > located mid-ribbon) allow me to view the old HDD? Any danger in this
> > type of temporary configuration?
>
> > Thanks,
>
> > mark
>
> Yes, it will, and no it shouldn't. It doesn't even have to be temporary.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

PROGRESS!!!!

Thanks to everyone who posted replies! Could never have done it
without you. Here's the latest. I connected the HDD, "found" it, and
was able to get all of my old docs, xls, ppt, files onto my new
system. Oh happy day!

I hope it's okay to fire off one more question?

Since there's an empty space in my new PC, I thought I might make the
old HDD a permanent fixture in my new machine.

Here's the question...

I want to format the old 40 GB drive after I install it. Since all I
really want it for is extra storage, do I need to load Windows (or
anything else, for that matter) on the old 40 GB drive?

Also, can anyone tell me how to format the old drive? (the steps)

Thanks again!

Mark

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:

> On Jul 30, 11:57 am, Bob I <bire...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>2...@cox.net wrote:
>>
>>>On Jul 30, 11:04 am, Bob I <bire...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>>>2...@cox.net wrote:
>>
>>>>>On Jul 30, 9:38 am, "DL" <address@invalid> wrote:
>>
>>>>>>If your old PC stopped due to a failed hard drive then you are unlikely to
>>>>>>be able to recover anything.
>>
>>>>>>The simplest way, for the uninitiated, would be to buy a hard drive external
>>>>>>caddy, fit the hd, and connect via usb / firewire
>>
>>>>>>Otherwise you would probably advised to set the jumper on the hd to slave -
>>>>>>a series of small pins next to the main cable connector, there is usually a
>>>>>>graphic on the drive showing various pin connections.
>>>>>>Connect the ide cable (about 4cm wide) - I'm assuming a none sata drive
>>>>>>All with the PC power supply disconnected, then reboot
>>>>>>If it fails to reboot, either the connections are wrong or the hd has failed
>>
>>>>>><2...@cox.net> wrote in message
>>
>>>>>>news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>>>>>>My XP computer died. I replaced it with a Vista PC. Since the old
>>>>>>>machine simply died (never could get it back to the desktop), I was
>>>>>>>unable to copy/back up my files. Stupid me, I know. Should've been
>>>>>>>doing back ups all along.
>>
>>>>>>>My question is this: In my new computer (Gateway GT5432) there is
>>>>>>>what appears to be a slot or space where I could insert my old drive.
>>>>>>>Can I do this safely (for the purposes of getting my old pics, docs,
>>>>>>>music transferred to my new HDD)?
>>
>>>>>>>I have removed my old HDD (it's sitting on my desk now).
>>
>>>>>>>If anyone knows how to do this, and can explain it in fairly simple
>>>>>>>steps, I would really, really appreciate your help!
>>
>>>>>>>Thanks!- Hide quoted text -
>>
>>>>>>- Show quoted text -
>>
>>>>>I've set the jumpers on my old HD to "slave" (remove the plastic
>>>>>bridge to make the jumpers match the diagram. Next, I opened up the
>>>>>side panel on my new machine. While there is a space (next to the
>>>>>existing HDD), and a female connector, it (the connector) isn't the
>>>>>same type as the male pins on my old HDD.
>>
>>>>>I did, however, find a female connector on a grey ribbon. The
>>>>>connector marries up with the pins on my old HDD. This connector,
>>>>>though, is in the middle of the ribbon that leads from my CD drive.
>>>>>Unsure whether it was okay to plug my old drive into it, I decided not
>>>>>to do so. Instead, I closed up the computer and thought I would post
>>>>>this note to see if I could get a little more guidance.
>>
>>>>>Any thoughts?
>>
>>>>>Thank you for your first reply!
>>
>>>>>Mark
>>
>>>>That would make it the "Slave" on the IDE subsystem with the CD drive
>>>>being the master.- Hide quoted text -
>>
>>>>- Show quoted text -
>>
>>>Bob,
>>
>>>Will connecting the old hard drive to the IDE connector (that is
>>>located mid-ribbon) allow me to view the old HDD? Any danger in this
>>>type of temporary configuration?
>>
>>>Thanks,
>>
>>>mark
>>
>>Yes, it will, and no it shouldn't. It doesn't even have to be temporary.- Hide quoted text -
>>
>>- Show quoted text -
>
>
> PROGRESS!!!!
>
> Thanks to everyone who posted replies! Could never have done it
> without you. Here's the latest. I connected the HDD, "found" it, and
> was able to get all of my old docs, xls, ppt, files onto my new
> system. Oh happy day!
>
> I hope it's okay to fire off one more question?
>
> Since there's an empty space in my new PC, I thought I might make the
> old HDD a permanent fixture in my new machine.
>
> Here's the question...
>
> I want to format the old 40 GB drive after I install it. Since all I
> really want it for is extra storage, do I need to load Windows (or
> anything else, for that matter) on the old 40 GB drive?
>
> Also, can anyone tell me how to format the old drive? (the steps)
>
> Thanks again!
>
> Mark
>

No problem, just r-click on it in Disk Management and pick format.