transferring data from old hard drive

Question

Hi there!  I asked a few months ago about how I would access the info off of my HP pavillon while using my new Dell Dimension.  Someone pointed me in the direction of using this adaptor http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=USB2IDE-N&cpc=SCH&srm=0.  My question now is...where does it go?  The  only port that looks similar in size is where my printer cable was.  The HP monitor port does not work at all.  I bought cable after cable but have determined that the problem is with the port itself.  So I am unable to 'see' what is on my computer right now.  I do have another port that is the same size as the monitor port that reads 'serial' next to it.  Is this where I would need to plug in to get info off of the hard drive.  It's a male port, if that helps.  Thanks for any help.

rickmktg · Answer

@robbieroosmom wrote:

Hi there! I asked a few months ago about how I would access the info off of my HP pavillon while using my new Dell Dimension. Someone pointed me in the direction of using this adaptor http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=USB2IDE-N&cpc=SCH&srm=0. My question now is...where does it go? The only port that looks similar in size is where my printer cable was. The HP monitor port does not work at all. I bought cable after cable but have determined that the problem is with the port itself. So I am unable to "see" what is on my computer right now. I do have another port that is the same size as the monitor port that reads "serial" next to it. Is this where I would need to plug in to get info off of the hard drive. It's a male port, if that helps. Thanks for any help.

You need to REMOVE your old hard drive, plug the cable into it, then plug the other end into the usb port of your new computer.

robbieroosmom · Answer

Oh no!   LOL, so I have to take the hard drive OUT of the tower to do this, right?  I haven't a clue how to figure that out.  Maybe I should take it somewhere to have this done.

robbieroosmom · Answer

Thanks so much for telling me about files and settings transfer.  I just found that on my computer and it explained how I can connect both computers using ' LapLink serial cables, serial file transfer cable, and null modem serial cables.'  I think I will find out where I can purchase one of these and try a transfer that way.  Thanks again!

robbieroosmom · Answer

Ok, I've opened up the tower and have located something that has a flat connector hooked to it.  This says 'master' on it.  Is this the hard drive that I need to unhook?

robbieroosmom · Answer

I wanted to transfer them to a CD but the monitor connection won't work so I can't see what is on the old computer.  I have my tower apart now and have no clue how to put it back.  I unplugged the connection that said 'master'.  I'm assuming this is where I plug in the usb to ide adaptor now?  I hope!  I cannot remove the drive from the old computer completely because I can't figure out how to access the screws in the front of the machine.

robbieroosmom · Answer

I'm not sure that I can since I can't find the serial port on my new dell.  Oh my, I am so computer illiterate.  I'm just afraid to take my hard drive out since I'm not really sure how to find it in there or how to take it out.  There are so many little screws.  I really just want to access pictures and a couple of photo editing programs.  The photos are my most priority.

ejn63 · Answer

Be sure you have a lot of time - transferring that way is VERY slow.

rickmktg · Answer

@robbieroosmom wrote:

Oh no! LOL, so I have to take the hard drive OUT of the tower to do this, right? I haven't a clue how to figure that out. Maybe I should take it somewhere to have this done.

Yes, you do. You'll pay someone around $100 or so would be my guess, but you can then return the cable.

Or, simply remove the drive and plug it into your existing cable as ejn63 recommend in your last post.

Or, depending on the amount of data, simply run Windows Files and Settings Transfer Wizard on the new computer to make a floppy, then run it on the old computer, and burn a CD for the new computer to read in.

ejn63 · Answer

You won't be able to transfer the programs; those will need to be reinstalled from the original CD(s).

Depending on how many photos there are you may be better off writing them to CD if the older system has a CD writer.

Razorback777 · Answer

Buy an External Hard Drive USB 2.0 Enclosure and put the hard drive from your HP in it and then you can transfer all the files you want off it using that. You'll have to change the jumper on the drive to Cable Select.

Then you have the option of putting that Hard Drive back into the HP and possibly selling that computer, OR reformatting that drive and keeping it in the External Enclosure for storage and portability.

I have 2 External Hard Drives and I couldn't live without them. They've saved my rear several times when my computer has come down with a "cold". I redo Windows and transfer my files back from the External. I make sure my Externals are NEVER Plugged into the power or the computer when not in use. If the computer gets Zapped by a surge or whatnot, the externals won't be affected and I won't lose my data or files. The other great use is that I can bring it with me to friends houses and share pics, files, etc without having to burn cdr's and such all the time. Externals are very good to have. Good luck

rickmktg · Answer

@Razorback777 wrote:

Buy an External Hard Drive USB 2.0 Enclosure and put the hard drive from your HP in it and then you can transfer all the files you want off it using that. You'll have to change the jumper on the drive to Cable Select.

Then you have the option of putting that Hard Drive back into the HP and possibly selling that computer, OR reformatting that drive and keeping it in the External Enclosure for storage and portability.

I have 2 External Hard Drives and I couldn't live without them. They've saved my rear several times when my computer has come down with a "cold". I redo Windows and transfer my files back from the External. I make sure my Externals are NEVER Plugged into the power or the computer when not in use. If the computer gets Zapped by a surge or whatnot, the externals won't be affected and I won't lose my data or files. The other great use is that I can bring it with me to friends houses and share pics, files, etc without having to burn cdr's and such all the time. Externals are very good to have. Good luck

Note that the OP has already purchased a cable that hooks to the old drive and provides power to it for this purpose. She is not comfortable removing the drive.

robbieroosmom · Answer

I do have the old drive partially removed.  I have unplugged and unscrewed everything I can in the tower.  I just can't figure out how to take the front of the tower off so I can get to the screws to remove the hard drive completely.  There is no way I can figure out how to put any of this back together again.  Can I plug the hard drive in from here?  Does the tower need to be put back together and plugged into an electrical socket?

rickmktg · Answer

@robbieroosmom wrote:

I do have the old drive partially removed. I have unplugged and unscrewed everything I can in the tower. I just can't figure out how to take the front of the tower off so I can get to the screws to remove the hard drive completely. There is no way I can figure out how to put any of this back together again. Can I plug the hard drive in from here? Does the tower need to be put back together and plugged into an electrical socket?

As the device that you bought supplies both the data hookup AND the power to the drive, do NOT plug in the old computer.

Storage, Drives & Media

transferring data from old hard drive

Was this post helpful?