Help with ancient Dell

Question

Okay. So my girlfriend's friend has this ancient Dell.

She wants the data off the hard drive.

The . NOT found on Dell website.

The model number on the bottom of the case is DMC. Again, not found on Dell website.

Date of manufacture: 08/26/03.

The drive is a Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 8 40GB ATA/133

Okay, so she didn't have keyboard or mouse. She didn't bring over the monitor (yet).

I have no idea whether the old computer will even boot up.

So, I was kinda planning to use an adapter, PATA to USB, and try to read the drive.

My first plan was to use a SATA to USB adapter. That didn't work.

My next plan was to use an old disk enclosure. It seemed like the pins didn't quite line up, and the disk enclosure power wires interfered with inserting the drive.

My 3rd plan is to try an adapter from Amazon.

While I am waiting for that, I tried look at Dell support website.

Nothing there works. The website doesn't accept the model number.

The website doesn't accept the service tag. The website doesn't accept the serial number.

So, any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Kim

redxps630 · Answer

You could look for another old desktop pc that still supports PATA IDE hdd so you can possibly retrieve old data, assuming it is not dead. Alternatively if the ancient Dell can still boot up, use a usb flash drive to copy data from hdd.

A 3.5 PATA to sata adapter may work too (pins will align with IDE ribbon cable). You can install it in newer desktop to give it a try. https://www.amazon.com/PATA-Interface-Adapter-Converter-Drive/dp/B06XW8DYFT

redxps630 · Answer

CS means cable select. I would just leave jumper on master. http://www.p-dd.com/chapter2-page11.html

not sure which usb adapter you use but I think it probably looks like this one https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UtHJnMlDAY

Kim_2 · Answer

Thank you for the response.

The latest -----

I received the IDE/ATA to USB adapter from Amazon today.

It seems like it fits together very nicely. (And I did plug in the Molex power connector.)

Hmmm. The drive does not spin up when the adapter is plugged into power.

I have forgotten a lot of what I used to know.

Do you suppose it could be the wrong IDE jumper settings on the drive?

It looks like it is jumpered for CS.

I had hoped to avoid this, but I suppose I will have to ask her to bring over the old monitor.

Then I will reinstall the hard drive in the old computer; hook up an old mouse; hook up an old keyboard;

and see whether the thing boots or not.

It is frustrating to be asked to work on some old computer that maybe hasn't been turned on in 10 years,

and maybe it wasn't turned on because it had stopped working, and be expected to figure out what is going on,

and to fix it and/or retrieve the data. Especially since none of the support websites no longer have any information on the system or the drive.

Anyway, if you have any advice as to whether maybe it is the jumper settings or something else,

I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,

Kim

Kim_2 · Answer

Okay.  I solved the problem.  The adapter had a tiny power switch on it that I didn't see.  I can access the drive now. Thank you for your help. The adapter I am using is this one:

Inspiron Desktops

Help with ancient Dell

Was this post helpful?