Transferring Data from a Damaged Laptop

[chrissa1]

Is it easy to transfer everything from a damaged laptop, (just the casing is damaged)?

Do I need lots of discs, CD and/or DVD? Any help much appreciated.

[HillyHugger]

It depends how much you want to transfer & what sort of files? For example videos for example take up a lot more space than Word documents .

[hc4361]

The easiest thing to do is buy an external hard drive caddy. This is a casing for the laptop hard drive, so it can be used on any other pc by connecting it by USB.
It turns your old hard drive in to an external hard drive.
Like this, but you make sure you buy the right one for your hard drive.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Internal-Mobile-drive- Caddy-Black/dp/B001320UDG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s =electronics&qid=1244284882&sr=8-5

[ACtheTROLL]

hc's idea is probably the best - but the example given is for a desktop enclosure
as is rightly said
>> make sure you buy the right one for your hard drive.
and the most definitely isn't the right one
you need a 2.5" enclosure
get USB not esata
and as you haven't given the brand/model of the damaged machine - you need so look through the book
and find if your machine has an IDE or SATA disc in it
and buy the right one

it's not a daunting as it sounds - if you get the right kit - the actual task is a piece of cake

[chrissa1]

Thank you everyone, but I'm a bit confused. This hard drive caddy. Does it transfer all the data on my Dell XPS 1530 to my new laptop. In other words, does it copy everything and then I can transfer it on to the new one?

Cheers.

[sara3]

chrissa, I just had to do the same thing and I bought this.. http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cur_page .jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0139232806.1244294521@@@ @&BV_EngineID=ccciadehgmeiegjcflgceggdhhmdgmk. 0&page=Product&sku=220908

2 cables.. one goes to the mains, the other plugs into a usb on your lappy, and you can transfer the whole lot in one go. it took over an hour to do mine, but it's so simple to use. this one is 500gb, and I've also backed up everythingon my daughter's laptop too.

[chrissa1]

Wow, sara, that sounds just what I need. Thank so much. Also thanks to everyone else.

[ACtheTROLL]

gobsmacked!!!!

you have the drive - you need a �15-20 enclosure to use the drive you already have
- which already contains the files you want and will enable you to copy the filed direct

why spend �50 on another drive - you're then going to have to copy all the files from the lappy to the new drive ... then to copy them from the new drive to the new machine.
and presumably you'll then be getting rid of what sounds to be a perfectly good disc already in the lappy

[chrissa1]

Now I'm really confused.

I can't use the damaged one because the lid is all skew wiff and doesn't open properly.

[ACtheTROLL]

which is why you take the drive out of the poor mangled twisted machine - and put it in an enclosure.

all the files will be instantly available ..

[hc4361]

If you can't use your damaged laptop you are not going to be able to transfer the files to an external hard drive costing �50 or more.
Buy the caddy for a lot less. Take the hard drive out of the damaged laptop, put it in the caddy. Connect caddy to new pc by USB and your new pc will be able to access all your files directly from the original hard drive.
Your new pc will treat it exactly the same as any other hard drive.

[chrissa1]

What, I have to unscrew things physically from underneath the laptop and remove something?? I think I'm being awfully dense about this. Sorry.

[ACtheTROLL]

I'd have to agree
;-O

surely you know someone with a tool who'd be able to pull it out and then stick it in for you?

[chrissa1]

Yeah yeah, AC, very funny!!!!!!!

I guess I'll just have to throw myself on the mercy of PC World.

[ACtheTROLL]

I'd be more inclined to trust pc plod.

it's not hard .... generally 2 screws a couple of plugs ... and that's it.
It is literally a two minute job

you must know someone who can pick their nose without putting an eye out.