Data retrieval question

[GrantMeThePower]

Hi all! Thanks for taking the time to read and answer...

My old laptop died (motherboard failure) so I bought a new one. I still have, however, lots of data on my old laptop that I would like to have (its a personal laptop, so its mostly pictures that I'd like to save). Is it possible to say buy an external case and remove the hard drive from the laptop and then plug it into the case then the new laptop to access the data?

Is it possible to get to my files?

Thanks!

Grant

 

[Sumotku]

You hit it right on the head. After your done with the documents transfer you might consider reformatting it to free it up all the way for backup storage. You will typically need to use two usb ports to run the drive, if your notebook has only two ports its a little inconvenient but no biggie.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Excellent! Thanks for the reply.

Is there a particular enclousure that you would recommend or are they pretty much all the same?

 

[Mutilator]

You could get something like this and install the laptop drive in your desktop.
Or you could get an external powered USB enclosure like this one.

 

[Sumotku]

Just to keep options open, look for one that has Firewire as well as USB 2 connectivity. I'm using a Macally PHR-250CC which has all the required features and has held up well for the last half year or so. It actually has two firewire ports to enable daisy chaining as well. Use it only when needed and don't leave it running unnecessarily to get the most life out of the drive. They don't dissipate heat all that well. They're more appropriately designed to keep foreign matter out then release generated heat. Great little backups.

 

[VanTheMan]

If you don't really need to have the old laptop drive portable, I'd go with the adapter the Mutilator suggested and put it in your desktop. Depending on how large the old drive is, it might not be worth spending $40+ on an enclosure for it.