Hard Disc

alanty

My computer got damaged and would not work so as it was an old one i decided to scrap it ,i took out the hard drive and would like to copy its contents to my new computer,is they a way to connect the hard dive to my new computer to copy the files

SteveJH200

Yes, buy a caddy and transfer files to your new computer via a USB connection.

alanty

can you tell me what is a caddy?

Browntoa

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=3.5+hard+drive+caddy&_sacat=3667&LH_PrefLoc=1&_odkw=hard+drive+caddy&_osacat=3667&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

you need to work out if your drive is IDE or sata

HappyChappy84

Browntoa wrote: »

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=3.5+hard+drive+caddy&_sacat=3667&LH_PrefLoc=1&_odkw=hard+drive+caddy&_osacat=3667&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

you need to work out if your drive is IDE or sata

How do you tell? my sis has an old HDD (only 40GB) that I would like to stick in a cradle.

robmar0se

You can tell by looking at the connectors - the new SATA type has two flat type connectors see here http://www.allpinouts.org/index.php/Serial_ATA_(SATA,_Serial_Advanced_Technology_Attachment)

the old eide type of connectors which yours probably is, has one four pin power (molex) connector and one 2" long mulpi pin connector

http://www.cromwell-intl.com/technical/ata-ide-sata-usb-cable-pinouts.html

HappyChappy84

robmar0se wrote: »

You can tell by looking at the connectors - the new SATA type has two flat type connectors see here http://www.allpinouts.org/index.php/Serial_ATA_(SATA,_Serial_Advanced_Technology_Attachment)

the old eide type of connectors which yours probably is, has one four pin power (molex) connector and one 2" long mulpi pin connector

http://www.cromwell-intl.com/technical/ata-ide-sata-usb-cable-pinouts.html

Thanks, I think it looks like the second one. I'll take a picture of it when i can and upload it to here.

macman

A 40GB hard drive is going to be quite old and most likely PATA/IDE, not SATA.
If still not sure, go to an independent PC shop with the drive and say 'I'd like a USB caddy that fits one of these please'.