How do you retrieve files, documents from a laptop HD.

[rolandr]

I posted my rant about my laptop's crappy motherboard that went kaput.

Now how would I retrieve files from my laptop's HD? Is there a cable harness I could plug into my Desktop's PCI slot or something?

Yes, too lazy to Google. It just you members probably could post links faster than I could Google and sort out all these sites and links.

Thanks in advance.

---------- Post added at 07:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:58 PM ----------

There's some You Tube clips that uses some USB port adapter. What do you guys think of this method for those who retrieve files from a hard drive?

[cybrax]

2.5" IDE/ATA drives use a different connector to regular 3.5" desktop PC IDE/ATA hard drives so sadly it's not a straight plugin job and an adaptor will be needed, or a friend with a similiar laptop unless it's SATA conection. Anyhow, HDD docks are pretty cheap you can find them for under £25 UK pounds and they require no technical skill or special software just plugin and read the files off that you want to keep.

[henk506673]

[QUOTE=cybrax;812440]2.5" IDE/ATA drives use a different connector to regular 3.5" desktop PC IDE/ATA hard drives so sadly it's not a straight plugin job and an adaptor will be needed, or a friend with a similiar laptop unless it's SATA conection. Anyhow, HDD docks are pretty cheap you can find them for under £25 UK pounds and they require no technical skill or special software just plugin and read the files off that you want to keep.[/QUOTE
i would agree with the above comment, if it is sata i woudl use something like a blackx sata to usb drive module, you can find them at newegg

[rolandr]

So using this method (sata, USB drive module) I would have to set the hard drive's jumper as a secondary hard drive like having two hard drive on a computer[?]

I'll try to identify what type of hard drive etc ... thanks for getting me in the right direction. I think I could handle it.

[henk506673]

So using this method (sata, USB drive module) I would have to set the hard drive's jumper as a secondary hard drive like having two hard drive on a computer[?]

I'll try to identify what type of hard drive etc ... thanks for getting me in the right direction. I think I could handle it.

no it would not be a second hard drive, it would be basicly turned into an external hard drive, like a flash drive. you would not need to open your computer. just plug the bay into a power plug that is empty, plug the usb cable into the usb jack on the computer and then it will read your hard drive as a external hard drive. if it is ide/ata, post back and i will give you another method that is similar. by the way here is 1 simple device that takes care of 2.5 ide 3.5 ide and sata all in one
http://www.google.com/products/catal...=1000&bih=600#

[steronius]

this or equivalent should work for a temporary connection.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-017-_-Product

[rolandr]

Thanks guys, Just a quick question, so this SATA/IDE-USB adapter powers the hard drive?

You know with desktop computers besides the ribbon cable you have to have plug in the power cable from the power supply but in this case the USB port via cable sends power to the hard drive[?].

I haven't got my laptop back nor checked out this SATA/IDE-USB adapter yet so pardon me if getting my laptop back and purchasing SATA/IDE-USB adapter with instruction is self explanatory. Just like to cover my bases before purchasing it.

[henk506673]

i am not sure with the product i recomended but i will check right no for you. but either way, there should be absolutely no reason what so ever to open the desktop.

---------- Post added at 02:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:21 PM ----------

yep, both the options i suggested and the one that sternous suggested will work perfectly provided that your computer can handle usb 2.0

[essellar]

Most of the USB drive enclosures (and that's the terminology you'd use to Google or purchase) get their power from the USB bus. Many, in fact, have two USB cables -- the data are only transferred on one of the cables, but the second is used to make sure that there is enough 5-volt current to spin the drive. You may find an enclosure that uses an external "wall wart" to supply power, but the ones I've seen thus equipped are the more expensive variety (usually for 3.5" drives, which also need 12-volt power). Make sure the two USB cables are hooked to different buses -- most desktops use a different bus channel (with separate power buses) for the front and rear USB connectors.

[henk506673]

Most of the USB drive enclosures (and that's the terminology you'd use to Google or purchase) get their power from the USB bus. Many, in fact, have two USB cables -- the data are only transferred on one of the cables, but the second is used to make sure that there is enough 5-volt current to spin the drive. You may find an enclosure that uses an external "wall wart" to supply power, but the ones I've seen thus equipped are the more expensive variety (usually for 3.5" drives, which also need 12-volt power). Make sure the two USB cables are hooked to different buses -- most desktops use a different bus channel (with separate power buses) for the front and rear USB connectors.

hate to tell you this, but what you just said is erelavent if the products recomended are bought. and as a mater of fact, the products recomnded both come with their own external power and methoids of getting it to the drives. so all you will realy need to do is plug the provided power supply into the end that connects to the hard drive ans well as the proper cable from the hard drive connector to the hard drive and plug the hard drive in to the device and the device into the computer then transfer the files.