How do I strap an old hard drive ripped from an a old PC to a USB port on my new PC to access files?

Question

And where might I buy the cable from?

Answer 1

You can pick up a IDE to USB patch cable from Best Buy or from local PC shop for about $30 and they come with power adapter.

Hint: when using hard drive with patch cable most hard drives require removing select switch (slide bridge used to choose: master, slave, cable select...etc) in order to recognize the drive as mass storage. Although some require you to set it as master.

That is actually the best way to remove viruses and spyware, because the O.S. doesn't have to be running so the viruses and/or malware doesn't have anything to latch itself to.

I also have the adapter to use it with notebook HDs aswell. That is another great accessory to consider.

Answer 2

Most computer or electronic stores will sell a "USB 3.5" Hard Drive Encloser". It is a case that you put the hard drive into and then as a USB cable that attachs to the new PC. Usually in the $40 range.

But, you can use the drive without a USB enclosure. Most PC come with 1 hard drive and 1 CD drive, but can hold up to 4 drives. You should be able to add the drive onto either of the IDE drive cables already inside your PC. You might have to switch a jumper on the hard drive to make it a "slave". Save you $40.

Answer 3

You make sure it is set as a MASTER/MASTER SINGLE and NOT a Slave and put it in a case you buy off ebay. Make sure you get one with a fan like the one I've found below. They get hot sometimes.

Personally 2.5" notebook ones are tonnes better because they don't get so hot and very small; plus self-powered. You are better off looking for one of these drives (or making one I think). I have an 80GB one which is very handy. I wouldn't make a 3.5" up again, I'd go 2.5".

When you have access to it, copy your data off it and use a program to format it as a Logical drive, not a Primary drive and then move your data back. I have Acronis 9 which also makes a nice boot cd (excellent for setting up a new PC for installing Windows XP SP2 quick and better partitioned and allows large FAT32 format so USB drives can be Win98 SE compatible).

This is a typical 3.5" caddy version:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-5-IDE-Hard-drive-disk-Case-Enclosure-Fan-UK-SELLER_W0QQitemZ280030913977QQihZ018QQcategoryZ96894QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Answer 4

You'll need a IDE to USB convertor and a power cable. You should be able to get these from Maplins or somewhere online like Ebuyer.

Alternatively you could buy a drive enclosure which will have everything you need.

Answer 5

You could buy nGear USB 2.0 to SATA/IDE Cable its comes with power adapter for your old hard drive USB
Just plug it in your new laptop or Destop that has USB connector and voila you can access it from there

Answer 6

an old hard drive...well, if you have open IDE/SATA ports just slave the drive.

Set the jumper settings on the drive to slave (noted on top of the drive) (the jumper is in the back, you might need a paper clip or something to remove it and put it in the right place)

Then boot and make sure the drive is recognized as a slave

Another $$ option is to buy an external inclosure (either SATA or IDE depending on what type of drive it is)

Answer 7

you're able to be able to in user-friendly terms have have help for USB one million.0 hardware. The exterior harddisk you're connecting is in all probability a USB 2.0. you ought to purchase 2.0 USB enjoying cards which you would be able to put in an empty PCI slot yet i might evaluate upgrading the workstation first. something older than 3 years, you've gotten consistant problems with new hardware and utility.

Answer 8

You can purchase a case from Tiger.com that you can put the old HD in and attach for transfer or storage, you will need to know what type HD you have so you get the right case or you can install the old HD in your new computer and you can access and transfer files off of it without purchasing anything.

Good Luck,

Answer 9

hello
is the old hard drive a usb hard drive?
if of just buy a usb conncetion
and conncet it to the usb port ,but at the back of the old hard drive make sure the . jumpers ar on the slave pin like this>>>>m<>S<< slave so you set the jumper on to the slave pin

usb conncetion .cable you can buy for $12
if,you shop about dont just go to 1 store

Answer 10

you can connect any extra hard disk or cd-rom with 2 things...

1. USB 2.0 IDE cable connector
2. Power cable that connects to power socket of harddisk.

you can get it on any computer spare shop. ask for USB IDE connector and IDE power connector....get going...