How do I access a laptop hard drive from my desktop?

  • Thread starter Thread starter John
  • Start date Start date
J

John

My laptop hard-drive crashed (had errors I couldn't fix when it booted,
reformat didn't help) and I replaced it myself but now I want to try to
access individual files from the old hard drive. I thought I could just
plug it into my desktop as a slave drive and attempt to access it but I had
not realized it used a different number of pins than the standard IDE
drives.

So, to access the laptop drive, do I just need to get the right cable? If
so, what kind? Anything else I need to know?

Thanks for any hints...
 
Buy a self powered USB and / or Firewire 2.5" case from newegg.com or
megahaus.com
Lou
 
John said:
My laptop hard-drive crashed (had errors I couldn't fix when it booted,
reformat didn't help) and I replaced it myself but now I want to try to
access individual files from the old hard drive. I thought I could just
plug it into my desktop as a slave drive and attempt to access it but I had
not realized it used a different number of pins than the standard IDE
drives.

So, to access the laptop drive, do I just need to get the right cable? If
so, what kind? Anything else I need to know?

Thanks for any hints...
Click to expand...

Well, one poster suggested that you buy an external enclosure. That might be
a way to go if you had a drive that you knew was good. But since you don't
know that right now, how about doing it the cheap way? You can buy an
adapter that will make the 2.5" drive match up to "big computer" standards.
They are available everywhere but this one is the first result on a Google
search I did:
http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=205-1991
 
My laptop hard-drive crashed (had errors I couldn't fix when it booted,
reformat didn't help) and I replaced it myself but now I want to try to
access individual files from the old hard drive. I thought I could just
plug it into my desktop as a slave drive and attempt to access it but I had
not realized it used a different number of pins than the standard IDE
drives.

So, to access the laptop drive, do I just need to get the right cable? If
so, what kind? Anything else I need to know?
Click to expand...

There are adapter kits that allow you to hook 2.5"
drives to the power cables and IDE cables inside a
desktop machine... but I like Lou's suggestion of
getting an external firewire/USB drive for 2.5" drives
and just mounting your laptop drive in that. (Much
easier.)
 
Thanks for the suggestion. I was considering the enclosures but I like the
adapter better because it's cheaper. I won't need regular access to the
drive since it has errors so I'm reluctant to spend a lot of cash on it.

Thanks again.
 
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