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View Full Version : how to copy a hard drive?

cmtar
11-07-08, 07:37 AM
I have a lap top that the screen is dead, i also have a usb flash drive that is 4gb. Im thinking that maybe i can put in the usb drive and start the laptop and the drive would get automatically copied to the usb drive, is there a program that can do that? What I am wanting off the laptop is the pictures really so maybe something that can pull all jpg files or something? Any ideas?
Richard King
11-07-08, 07:51 AM
I would purchase an external USB hard drive enclosure, remove the HDD from the laptop, put it in the enclosure and copy from there to another hard drive. Or just use the drive as an external drive.
dmspen
11-07-08, 07:57 AM
I have a device from coolmax that does what you need. Basically it's a square with 4 connectors that allows you to connect any standard drive externally to another computer via USB. When my daughters laptop died, I removed the hard drive and was able to recover her pictures. I recently lent it to my Boss. His wife's laptop motherboard failed. He was able to recover everything using this device.

It's a Coolmax CD-350-Combo. Here's the link to the website. I got it at a local computer store - about $29. Well worth the $.
http://www.coolmaxusa.com/productDetails.asp?item=CD-350-COMBO&details=overview&subcategory=converter&category=converter
cmtar
11-07-08, 08:17 AM
yea i was thinking that an external box or something like that from coolmax is my only option but i wanted to try everything before i spend some money. I was told by someone there is some type of ghostying program with will start when you boot the laptop and copy everything from the laptop to the usb but i guess not
Git
11-07-08, 11:42 AM
There are several software solutions available - but they are all going to require your display to be working so you can navigate through the program.

Your best bet is to pull the hard drive and buy a "sata/ide to usb adapter" like dmspen suggested


here is another one Vanted $20 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812232002)

You simply connect it to another computer and it will recognize the drive. This is the tool to have if you ever have a computer that dies (won't boot, etc) and you need to get data off the hard drive
BobaBird
11-07-08, 04:44 PM
Do you have access to a monitor you can connect to the laptop for long enough to do the copy/move the standard way?
cmtar
11-11-08, 06:22 AM
Do you have access to a monitor you can connect to the laptop for long enough to do the copy/move the standard way?

Possible might can get access to a monitor, would i just connect the monitor to the laptop, would i have to install anything or would it just work.

Also i have another laptop that works fine, is there something i can do with that one, maybe connect it to that or something?
digital223
01-02-09, 06:38 PM
Possible might can get access to a monitor, would i just connect the monitor to the laptop, would i have to install anything or would it just work.

Also i have another laptop that works fine, is there something i can do with that one, maybe connect it to that or something?

If you are not going to copy the OS to your new computer, try this. Connect the HD in question to the new computer as a "Slave". Then using Explorer save whatever you want to the new hd. I never owned a notebook but I assume the interface is either ata or sata, which is quite simple to hook up.
Make sure the old HD is connected as a "Slave". That way the new HD will boot.