How to get files off a laptop Please?

[scustalow]

I have a laptop that is showing the blue screen of death..is there anyway to get files off of it by using another pc and connecting them together with a usb cable

[ROF]

Most USB/IDE Cables include a laptop connector. Such as this.

[scustalow]

If I was to connect the laptop to another pc via usb cable..and have the laptop at the c prompt would the other pc see it

[ROF]

You would need two viable windows based systems in order for that to function. since one isn't working the other would fail to connect. using the cable I linked to you don't even have to have the hard drive inside another machine. I have two sets of those cables. One for the shop and one in my PC Doctor's bag. If someone has a dead PC I can bring my laptop and those cables connect their hard drive to my laptop without removing it from the tower and analyze it, format it, add/subtract files from it. All sorts of things. It's a great item to have. Just make sure to get one that has the 2.5" adapter.

[scustalow]

So I woul dhave to remove the laptop hard drive correct?

[ROF]

Unless you can fit the connector in the hard drives location, Yes. In most laptops it's a tight fit but fortunately the hard drives are usually easily accessible and removable.

[scustalow]

Thank you so much for your help..the laptop is a Inspiron 600m Dell is there a good place to go to get the correct proceedure to remove the hard drive correctly

[ROF]

Notebook Hard Drive Removal Guides

[scustalow]

Thank you for all your help...You are the Tech Master!!!

[jimmalenko]

Thank you for all your help...You are the Tech Master!!!

I'd say he's the Google master .... .....

[ROF]

Maybe I'm both or neither but so far I've got no complaints about the cabling above. It's saved me a heap of work or needing to pull equipment in order to repair it. Just plug the cables in and go. EZ stuff.

You can also use those cables for temporary external storage. have a hard drive lying around unused? Want to store info on it? Connect it via this cable to your USB port and drag and drop the files. Once you connect the cables it reports a mass storage device detection and after a few moments it lists your hard drive, and then after another few moments your connected hardware is ready to use as through it were a USB Hard drive.

[offline]

You don't need or want one of those. Just buy a cheap external USB 2.5" notebook drive case.

Pull out your laptop drive and place it in the case, connect & go.

You don't need a separate power supply, it has the right connectors and your drive will protected during and after the data transfer; all for less money and effort.

[ROF]

But then you'd need to carry around an external case because the laptop wouldn't have any hard drive inside it. Some also won't boot via the USB/Firewire port. I've never seen a quality external case under $30 too.

Also Notebook drives are 2.5".

[offline]

The drive pops in and out as he sees fit - no carrying around unless he wants to, and if he does it's protected somewhat and can fit in his pocket including cable unlike your suggestion.

The same usb boot issues apply to your option and he does not need to boot anyway. Any cheap seven dollar Chinese case will be fine for his purposes so long as it fits his hard drive size- many cases won't handle 60gig or higher.


**3.5" was a typo I could not fix as I was in a black spot.

PS: A % of drive issues are PCB based so I never ever leave a suspect drive in its cage and do a data transfer like you suggest. I also use a soft switch in the power-line in case of faulty PS/PCB or excessive dust/heat issues.

Your approach is great for home use but not when the data is worth $$$$ or you are running it against another active power supply.

[ROF]

These cables come with it's own power supplies. Cheapo external cases typically have latch clips that easily break after several openings and closings. They are also a tight fit around the drive and quite a few do not support 2.5" drives.

Considering I use the cabling for both home and work and have never lost any data because of them I rely on them and recommend them highly. It's much easier to carry around a set of cables. Disconnect a power connection, disconnect a data connection and then just connect both the provided PS cable and data cable and go.

In your situation you'd pull the hard drive out (4 screws) from one case, put it into another case, perform your maintenance of back up issues, then have to put the hard drive back. With these cables you rarely if ever have to pull the hard drive. In the case of laptop I leave the drive right inside the bay but just prop it up in order to connect these cables. In towers I never remove the hard drive just disconnect the case cabling and connect these cables.

Much easier, much simpler, much less chance of static inducement, and much less chance of damage caused by moving parts to and fro.

Plus you save a considerable amount of money when compared to purchasing a quality case and you don't have to worry about the excessive heat caused by the cramped quarters of an external case.

[offline]

Thank you for all your help...You are the Tech Master!!!

I'd say he's the Google master .... .....

Not referring to ROF or anyone else on this board, but the term Google Expert or Gooxpert should become a term to describe those that use Google to appear more knowledgeable than they really are.

[ROF]

Thank you for all your help...You are the Tech Master!!!

I'd say he's the Google master .... .....

Not referring to ROF or anyone else on this board, but the term Google Expert or Gooxpert should become a term to describe those that use Google to appear more knowledgeable than they really are.

This is so true and can be quite annoying sometimes.

[offline]

Much easier, much simpler, much less chance of static inducement, and much less chance of damage caused by moving parts to and fro.

1. Static is always an issue, even more so when connecting a caged hard drive to an external power source. Static occurs when there is a differential between electric fields. An external power source on a caged drive can increase the imbalance. Physics 101

2. If you can't handle the removal of a HDD safely, you should not even be touching it in the 1st place.

Considering I use the cabling for both home and work and have never lost any data

I ride a bike and have never been hit by a car. I smoke and never had lung cancer. Circular logic.

Cheapo external cases typically have latch clips that easily break after several openings and closings.

Not in my experience; plus the guy just wants a cheap/easy solution anyway.

They are also a tight fit around the drive and quite a few do not support 2.5" drives.

All 2.5 cases fit 2.5 drives. The OP is using a notebook drive after all. The snug fit helps prevent damage.. or do you want your drive rolling around?

Plus you save a considerable amount of money when compared to purchasing a quality case and you don't have to worry about the excessive heat

Spurious arguments. I already said a cheap case would be fine. Heat is a non issue here unless his data transfer is going to take 24 hours and even then many cheap 2.5" cases have adequate ventilation.

[ROF]

You say Potato I say Potatoe either way it's still just a tuber. I've seen more lost hard drive data by transferring the drive to another case then I've ever seen using these cables. I've also seen cheap cases cause damage due to faulty/cheap power supplies.

You can do either method, but I know what works, not what google says works.

[ranchhand]

When I have this problem I just use Knoppix to boot from the CDrom, completely bypass XP and pull my data files off the harddrive. As long as the harddrive is operating physically, this works a treat. I do it all the time.

The other thing is to try a repair reinstall of XP from the OEM disk. Replaces the corrupted files that are causing the BSOD, unless there is a bad vid.card or drivers.

[offline]

I agree with you, ranchhand, that is the better method. However many users gag at the thought of using a live distro or worry about doing an xp repair/mbr rewrite, with regards to their data.

[ROF]

I agree with you, ranchhand, that is the better method. However many users gag at the thought of using a live distro or worry about doing an xp repair/mbr rewrite, with regards to their data.

I know I worry. I cross my fingers hoping everything turns out OK.