Getting data from another HDD

x_Wilco_x

I need to try to recover the 'my documents' data from somebody else's hard disc as their computer died and they are buying a new one. As far as I am aware their Hard disc is still ok so can I just plug it into my computer temporarily and transfer the required data to my hard drive etc?

I was thinking I could just unplug my DVD drive and plug in the other hard disc. If i do this will my PC recognise the drive and allow me access to the contents? Will it cause any conflicts? and when I put my DVD back will it all go back to previous settings etc...

Obviously don't want to mess up my PC in the process of trying to help someone out so any advice would be appreciated....

Cheers.

PS - if this won't work are those USB to IDE cables any good and will it work this way?

alanclose

x_Wilco_x wrote: »

I was thinking I could just unplug my DVD drive and plug in the other hard disc. If i do this will my PC recognise the drive and allow me access to the contents? Will it cause any conflicts? and when I put my DVD back will it all go back to previous settings etc...

That should work - I would check a few things, First make sure you match the master slave settings, If the dvd is set to slave make sure the hd is set to slave.

If the DVD is set to master make sure the boot order in your bios checks your own HD first and then the DVD, You don't want to boot from your friends HD

nomoneytoday

You can replace the DVD with a hard drive.
The 2 things you may need to change are the jumpers on the back of the hard drive or the computer setting stating a HDD instead of DVD is attached.
Once finished just put them back and voila

The USB things are fine if you don't want to open the case..

x_Wilco_x

Great advice guys, didn't want to spend on the cable if i didn't need so will try slotting the drive into my machine - will check the jumpers and Bios settings etc before....

Thanks...

ABH_3

x_Wilco_x wrote: »

Great advice guys, didn't want to spend on the cable if i didn't need so will try slotting the drive into my machine - will check the jumpers and Bios settings etc before....

Thanks...

After you've installed the drive (connected it physically to your computer) and 'discovered' it with Diskmanager. You maybe faced with the situation whereby you can see the drive, but not the files\folders in which case you need to read here:

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_security_tab.htm
http://www.the-pc-guru.com/Get_a_Security_tab_in_XP_Hom.php

Good luck!