Reviving my hard drive help please!

*manda*

So my PC died about 18 months ago- I *think* it may have been the power supply as it went about 2-3 years previously and had the same symptoms (Basically wouldn't turn on). As it was quite old anyway- 6 years or so and wheezing away very slowly I just bought a new one (Any excuse really....)

BUT my question is, I obviously had quite a bit on there- photos etc that I never got around to transferring elsewhere, and I have been told that I could get the data off the hard drive using a disk caddy. My questions are-
1) How do I find out what sort I need- I understand there are 2 main types of hard drive- SATA and another one, and I had a quick look inside and I couldn't make out anything obvious on it to indicate what it was- and I am really not that techie minded. So how do I know what sort of caddy to get? Any pointers or recommendations would be great.
2) If the old PC had viruses on (Which it probably would have despite software) would I be risking my new PC by plugging it in and taking off my pics/music etc.?

Browntoa

this will connect either via usb

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/USB-2-0-SATA-IDE-CABLE-HDD-W-POWER-ADAPTER-UK-/230583674186?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item35afdba54a

just virus scan it first , will appear as a usb/removable drive

BlueC

1) Yes, presuming it is a 3.5" drive (which it probably is) there are basically two types: SATA and IDE. This image gives a good example of the two:

http://archive.64bits.se/guider/pcbyggarskola/sata.jpg

The top drive is SATA, you can see they are quite different connectors.

Buy a caddy for the appropriate drive, make sure you don't buy a 2.5" caddy by mistake! Ebuyer does some cheap ones (<£20) which I have used just fine for occasional use. An alternative to a caddy is a multi-purpose cable adapter like this one:

http://www.usbnow.co.uk/p52/USB_2.0_IDE_&_SATA_Cable_%28with_Power_Supply%29/product_info.html

I use these all the time at work because its the same kit regardless of drive type (2.5"/3.5" IDE/SATA it does it all). Great for one-off use.

2) Yes it could be a risk. Make sure you have adequate AV installed before connecting it. I advise Microsoft Security Essentials.

Edit: Browntoa beat me to the multi-purpose cable idea, his is the exact kit I use and a bargain at <£10.

*manda*

Fab thanks for your help guys- I had seen some caddy's that could take either but they were around £20 on amazon and I didn't want to spend that and for it to be useless. I have Avast on my Laptop is that likely to be enough- I'm just extra paranoid as my nephew used my old PC a lot and we all know what children are like........

KiwiCrazy

If your PC is that old then you can pretty much have a safe bet it will be IDE.

closed

You can only catch a virus if you run something, copy files doesn't involve running anything. There is one exception to that (autorun), but it's unlikely to apply, and you have a virus scanner anyway.

IDE/PATA drives have a big fat grey/blue ribbon cable attached to the drive, google it for a pic.

If your new PC has ide connections, you could attach the old one internally, without the need for a caddy

macman

Alternative idea-If it's just the PSU failed, then for £25 you could replace the PSU and have a working PC again-then you won't need a USB caddy anyway.
As closed says, you can tell IDE from SATA by the cabling, the latter use a thin cable,often red or blue in colour. If it's more than about 5 years old it'll probably be IDE.
If you're still unsure, remove the drive, take it to the shop and say 'I would like to buy a USB caddy for one of these'.

*manda*

macman wrote: »

Alternative idea-If it's just the PSU failed, then for £25 you could replace the PSU and have a working PC again-then you won't need a USB caddy anyway.
As closed says, you can tell IDE from SATA by the cabling, the latter use a thin cable,often red or blue in colour. If it's more than about 5 years old it'll probably be IDE.
I you're still unsure, remove the drive, take it to the shop and say ) 'I would like to buy a USB caddy for one of these'.

I had a man out to fix it last time the PSU went and it cost around £75. It really was on it's last legs so that's why I haven't attempted to fix it this time around, but I see where you're coming from.

I've bought the cable Browntoa advised, for £9 I don't think I can go too far wrong- it's mainly just pics on it that I need, and probably some music. I had loads of old Uni work on it but I really haven't needed it since I left so I don't think I'll be too bothered by that!

closed

Depending on the wattage, 300W psu's can be had for less than £9, and are easy to fit.

*manda*

My next question - I have the lead, and hooked it up, but it isn't finding anything on the hard drive. The hard drive comes up, and says working properly. I went to do a virus scan- took 9 seconds. It asked if I wanted to format- and said if i did i'd lose data so I pressed no/cancel. But there doesn't seem to be anything on there when I look. Is it likely I've lost everything? I know I was warned when the power went before that it can fry the hard drive and I'm wondering if that it what has happened?