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Resolved Tranferring from external drive to internal

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by deester, 2009/09/21.

  1. 2009/09/21
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

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    I removed a hard drive from a damaged laptop and now want to transfer the contents to another laptop. The damaged laptop was a Dell Inspiron 1505 with XP, I want to transfer using USB port to Dell Lattitude 1515. I don't know how to do this, a friend copied some of the files but they are not readable. Also is it possible to transfer to Dell Inspiron 1545 with Vista. Any help will be appreciated.

    Dee
     
    deester,
    #1
  2. 2009/09/21
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    OS doesn't matter.
    Your best bet is to buy USB hard drive enclosure (designed for laptop hard drive).
    You out old hard drive in, connect it to good laptop and you're done.
     
    broni,
    #2


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  4. 2009/09/21
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

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    Remember who you're talking to, nothing is ever thar simple for me. I already have it in an enclosure. There is some way I have to get started don't I and transferring to C drive. broni, I need it more basic. Thanks for your help.
     
    deester,
    #3
  5. 2009/09/21
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    You hook it up to a working laptop, start the laptop, and should be recognized right away in Windows Explorer as another drive.
    Unless there is something wrong with drive itself.
     
    broni,
    #4
  6. 2009/09/21
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

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    I've got it plugged in and it's making a running noise. It is local disk F. Will I never be able to transfer it to my C drive?
     
    deester,
    #5
  7. 2009/09/21
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    Simply copy any files, you need from drive F and paste them into drive C.
     
    broni,
    #6
  8. 2009/09/21
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

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    Does what I transfer not stay on my computer? With the drive connected I can see everything but when I remove the drive, everything is gone. It's not in Windows explorer either.
     
    deester,
    #7
  9. 2009/09/22
    Dennis L Lifetime Subscription

    Dennis L Inactive Alumni

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    An external drive can provide the following when connected to your computer and powered on ....
    Provide a view of folder and files via Explorer.
    Allow you to write TO the drive.
    Allow you to copy FROM the drive.
    Basically, it allows you to the same things you do with your normal internal drive. But it must be connected and recognized by the computer it is attached to. Their are limitations (example boot drive, but requires option in motherboard), but we will leave that for a different discussion.
     
    Dennis L,
    #8
  10. 2009/09/22
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Dee

    Clarifying and repeating what has already been posted ......

    Connect the enclosure containing the old drive to your computer - if will show as Drive F:\ as your post #5

    In Windows Explorer make a new directory on the C:\ drive, say Recovered Data

    Open up F:\ drive in Windows Explorer

    Highlight the data you want to copy - right click on the highlighted files and select Copy from the right click menu.

    Go to the directory you created - Recovered Data - open it and right click in a blank area of the right hand pane and select Paste from the right click menu. The copied data will be pasted into the directory and will remain on the computer when the external drive is disconnected.
     
    PeteC,
    #9
  11. 2009/09/22
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

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    This was not at all how envisioned using this, I wanted to transfer on time and be done. Oh well, life goes on and you do what you have to do. I am going to learn to image my machine. Thanks everybody, I learned a lot.

    Dee
     
    deester,
    #10
  12. 2009/09/22
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    That is exactly what I set out above - copying the files from the old drive to the other laptop.

    Just remember you cannot transfer the OS in this way, just your data files and other data files like emails, favourites, etc

    Otherwise I am as :confused: as you are as to what you want to achieve :)
     
    PeteC,
    #11
  13. 2009/09/22
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

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    In my simple mind, this is how I had hoped it would it would work. I would plug in the drive and transfer the contents to C drive and be done. Doesn't work that way, Huh?
     
    deester,
    #12
  14. 2009/09/22
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    If you mean that plugging in the external drive automatically transfers the files to the host computer - NO - the external drive is seen as if it was a second internal drive and file transfer can only be accomplished by copying or moving to another drive just as you would move a file from one directory to another.

    I'm guessing that you have succeeded in copying the files you want across as you have marked the thread as Resolved?

    When you have completed transferring all the files you want off the drive format the old drive and use it for backup :)
     
    PeteC,
    #13
  15. 2009/09/22
    deester

    deester Inactive Alumni Thread Starter

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    Oh, I didn't copy any files, I'm just going to keep the hard drive. I have had bad luck lately losing the contents of me computer. I will have everything if needed.
     
    deester,
    #14

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