How do I transfer files from a non-working PC?

Question

I am going to buy a new computer, but I have some pictures from a digital camera on my old computer that I need to copy off. I have no backup of these pictures and my old computer won't boot up into Windows anymore. I used a DOS boot disk and was able to find where the pictures are, but the files are so large that I don't have a way of saving them to a floppy disk and I don't have a CD burner. What I'm wondering is if there is a way to hook up the old, non-working computer to another working computer to transfer the pictures over, or do you have any other suggestions? The computer is so old that I hate to spend the money to take it somewhere to have someone pull the pictures off if it's something I might be able to do myself. Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Answer 1

When you get the new computer, you can easily just move the OLD hard drive from the non working machine and plug it in as a "Slave" in the new computer. (Most computers these days will allow up to 4 such drives counting the main drive and any CDRoms, Tape Drives etc.) This "Slave" will be permanently available and any files can be easily copied from the old to the new drive. (it might be a good idea to get a tech to do the installation, but really, anyone with a minor understanding of the internal workings of a computer can do this for you if you feel that doing such things is beyond your own capabilities. )

I do this all the time and find it a great way to make sure I haven't missed any files during the transfer process. I can then even leave the hard drive in the new machine for several months until I am sure that all files have been harvested from the old drive.

A note here: Copy only letters, spreadsheets and files or pictures which you created and not program files or configuration files. Copying configuration or program files can make programs stop working and could crash your system.

Answer 2

Well the simple way is to get enclosure for the drive, USB drive case about $75.00, then take the drive out of the dead computer and plug it in the USB case then plug the drive in to another computer and down load any file you want, then format the drive and in future use it to back up your new files on the new computer, so it won;t happen again. DOS will not support USB unless you install the drivers on the Floppy, but a thumb drive might work to transfer files if your computer can support USB, Windows 98 SE. I hope this helps. You could also take another computer and install the drive as a second drive and use it that way too.

Answer 3

add the old hard drive to the new machine as a "slave" drive and you can access the old data. You could also put the old drive into a USB caddie and then connect it up to the new machine as a USB drive.

Answer 4

USB cable is fairly gradual use a bypass cable (community cable) ... its particularly speedy.. you could bypass ur data in minutes. ethernet data bypass and checklist sharing is optimum succesfull networking worldwide 2 3 years earlier.... and now additionally its getting used for homestead and workplace networking... word :-the community cable won't cost greater desirable(1metre cable) in assessment with pendrive

Answer 5

remove the hard drive