Portable hard drive question

LMac

I'm clearly not v good with technology as I have three devices that need the data extracted as they aren't working properly. (Also want to back up laptop that does work)

My question is do I need a seperate back up drive /USB stick whatever for each device? Or does it create folders?

Also can I then view the contents of the drive on my working laptop without it wiping current content (which is backed up on Dropbox/photobox) like I would see contents of a cd etc? Probably a silly question, but sillier not to ask!

Devices are two pcs ( one actually my parents one) that are constantly in power saving mode and the other laptop the screen is broken thanks to an ex! Hasn't been tirned on in ages but I've a feeling there's a few pics on there I'd love to save. After backup ill see about fixing them up.

Thanks in advance.

BTW looking at seagate 500gb drive if that makes a difference. Once extracted ill also back up important stuff online as an extra!

closed

provided the drive is big enough, you can store as many different backups as you like.

You should be able to use the laptop plugged into an external monitor

You can backup any system with macrium reflect free.

pc's in power saving mode, or screen saying this - ie no video output from pc?

disk is better than flash device.

you could also take the disks out and put them in another machine or caddy to rescue data

LMac

Thanks closed. The pcs say they are in power saving mode. Both are almost 8 years old and it was suggested to me it's the motherboard batteries. ( Will that mean I won't be able to grab a copy?) I don't understand the inner workings of a pc, but want to back them up before I hand them over to be looked at. Tbh, if they can't be fixed cheaply we won't miss them much- just want to make sure we got everything off them that we need.

Removing the discs is waaaay out if my league.

Didn't think about trying to use other screen with laptop. Will try it shortly!

closed

power saving mode?

If you switch the pc's on, what happens on the screen from the beginning, if anything, and if not does the base unit sound like it's starting up.

The power saving mode message could be coming from the screen, not the pc, and may mean there is no output from the graphics card, or the pc is dead, or the cable is loose - most screen report this as no signal or similar.

Make and model of machines?

The symptom of a dead motherboard battery would be the wrong time, or lost settings, eg seeming not seeing the hard disk

Removing a disk is simple, take the side of the case off, find the hard disk, remove the power lead and ribbon cable, and any screws holding it in place, put it in a caddy costing £10 or so.