Need to get files & photos off broken Windows XP laptop ... but new PC is Windows 7

OldtimeGamer

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Feb 3, 2013
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My Toshiba Satellite M45 stopped working (it won't power on) so I pulled the 2.5" Toshiba hard drive

Toshiba 100GB 2.5" IDE/ATA 5400 RPM HDD Laptop Hard Drive MK1032GAX HDD2D08

I want to get files....documents and photos off the hard drive. I would like to attach the hard drive to my new Windows 7 desktop. I'm looking at various adapters which allow me to plug a 2.5" IDE hard drive.... into and a/c powered adapter.... which connect to my PC via 2.0 USB cable.

There are several types out on the market and places like eb@y are full of them.

Has anyone used any of them? I want to get one that works but don't need a really expensive or fancy one..just one that works.

Any preferences or suggestions?

Here is one example of an a/c powered adapter

http://

But there are lots of them

http://
 

OldtimeGamer

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So with this particular adapter, will I have any problems just plugging in my Toshiba HD?

I ask because I need the device to plug into the HD ...and the device has to have a male adapter with the terminals to touch the terminals on my HD's female plug.

I don't see any exposed terminals on that device that would make contact with the way my HD is designed. My hard drive doesn't use terminal type male pins, in the female end of the plug). I should post a picture to clarify the end it will have to have to transfer power. Plus my drive has no separate connection for a/c power.



 

USAFRet

Titan
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You will have no problems. I have used mine to connect to a laptop size IDE drive almost identical to yours.
Assuming the drive itself is OK....it will work.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


Yes...post a picture, please. I just pulled apart an old IDE 2.5" drive, and there are indeed 'male' pins.
Is the drive in some sort of caddy?
 

OldtimeGamer

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update on 10-20

yes, it was in fact in a caddy. I didn't realize that that was just so it could adapt to the laptop. One I removed the 4 screws, I see that the black plastic shield simply slides off the male terminals.
I wanted to post 2 photos but I guess you cant upload them directly ...no big deal.



 

IFIXPCS

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It's best to attach the adapter to the old HDD and plug the adapter USB cable into the new PC. If it's a SATA HDD it's really simple, but IDE, be careful to get it connected correctly, look for Pin 1 on the HDD and the adapter. For SATA, I have a dual docking station as I clone and copy files from HDD's all the time. If you aren't going to ever do that again or even soon, just get the adapter suggested above. Just make sure the power is OFF before connecting the HDD to the adapter. Good luck, it's not as hard as you might think!