Accessing Hard drive on old PC

[Ralfy17]

I have an old pc which isnt working at the moment as the motherboard is knackered (the powerlight comes on but the pc doesnt then start to boot up). I have files on the hard drive that i need though. Is there any sort of way that this pc can be linked to my new one in order to access the hard drive? It wouldn't be as simple as just linking the 2 pc's together with a male to male usb lead would it??!!

Cheers.

[tellboy]

Are you fairly adept at fiddling around inside a PC.?
No you will not be able to connect your USB if you cant boot up into Windows or indeed use any other line connection. Your new PC will most likely not have the same HDD connector as your new PC.
Remove the HDD and ask someone with the same type of connector to try to read it and transfer the data to CD.

[puzzlesRus]

You should only perform the following tasks if you feel comfortable in handling computer components and I take no responsibility for your safety :-

1. Remove the drive from your old pc, complete with its IDE Ribbon cable.

2. Turn-off the power to your new PC (at the wall socket)

3. Take the relevant side panel off your new pc and examine the layout of your hard drive(s) and associated motherboard sockets. There will probably be 2 motherboard ide sockets. If only 1 of these is in use, then the old hard drive can be plugged into the other one but you will first need to change its jumper setting to SLAVE (There will probably be a diagram showing the jumper settings , on the drive itself) Make sure that the edge of the ribbon cable that has a RED stripe is in line with the red stripe of the existing IDE cable , in the other socket.

4. Connect one of the spare power leads to the drive (like the one that's connected to your new drive. (the orientation of the coloured wires should be the same as on your new drive, but in any case the shape of the connector will show you which way to insert it) Lay the drive on a flat surface, away from any of the other components.

5. Power-up your pc and hopefully, you should see the old drive when you boot-up.

Good luck !

[puzzlesRus]

I should have added that once you have finished, shut-down, power-off at the wall socket, remove power connector from old hard drive, remove the old hard drive and its ide cable, replace side panel.

[ACtheTROLL]

Tell - sorry didn't understand a word.
Puzzle is almost right.

ralfy - no it's not that simple - and you said the old won't start up ... (if the old would start ... and both machines have a network card .. you could use a crossover cable)

but from what you say - it's a screwdriver job

If you only want to access the data ... and then intend to get rid of the old disc.

Remove the disc with the ribbon cable still attached from the old pc's motherboard (you'll have to disconnect the power lead to do this
... take note of what things look like!

open the side on your new pc (generally - from the front - the left)

now there are two options.

1. all the discs (hdd & CD/DVD) use the same type of connector as the one on your hdd (in this case remove the ribbon from the old disc)

look on the old disc - you should see some diagrams showing master - slave - and c/sel jumper positions
make the old disc c/sel (no need to touch the new one.

half way down the ribbon cable on the new disc should be another 40 way connector

connect your old disc ... and plug in a spare power connector
switch on ... you should find the old disc showing in my computer (if this works ... you could fix the disc into a spare slot and leave it working.).

2 if the new disc has a thin (1.5cm) cable connecting it - this is SATA.

disconnect your CD/DVD's ribbon cable from the motherboard -
no need to do the master/slave c/sel thing this time

connect the ribbon from the old HDD to the motherboard, connect power (if you will leave the old disc dangling by the cable wrap it in paper to stop it shorting against the case!

switch on the machine ... you should see the drive .... copy the files you require.

disconnect the HDD - reconnect the CD/dvd - case

[boobesque]

then smash the old disk with a hammer without mercy