how to use IDE harddisk with laptop

ChatIndia

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I got an IDE harddisk and i want to retrieve data inside it. I don't have a desktop right now. All i have is a laptop, is there any way i can retrieve data from it.
 

essellar

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You should be able to buy cheaply (or, perhaps, even borrow) a USB drive enclosure for your drive. If you decide to buy, after you've done the data retrieval, you will have a perfectly serviceable external hard drive you can use for transfering/storing data and doing system backups. Obviously, I'm not familiar with the market in your area, but one can usually pick up an enclosure for about $15-20 in my area at a storefront retailer.

There are also "caseless" universal USB drive adapters that will take a 2.5" or 3.5" IDE or SATA drive in a top-loading slot. You might find a local repair shop or retailer (or a friendly corporate IT department) who would let you use it for the transfer if you don't want to buy your own enclosure -- they're usually used by retailers or IT departments for creating disk images and by repair types for data recovery.
 

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can i use my IDE hdd as an external hdd with that IDE adapter?
 

wongers

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you should basically buy yourself an empty enclosure, a little box that will encase your IDE HDD, there will be an IDE connector on the inside and then on the outside of the case can be a selection of USB, eSATA depending on what it is your looking for.

Most these days are even self powered and do not require a plug to be used and then you have your own external portable HDD.
 

essellar

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The "self powered" units are generally 2.5" enclosures; 3.5" enclosures almost always use mains power. (That's probably because notebook drives are usually low-power 5800RPM units, while desktop drives tend to be 7200RPM or faster and the larger platters have more inertia when spinning up -- the motor requires more power than even twin USB cables can provide.)

Still, this is all just repeating what I said in my original response.
 

rolandr

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Yup, all the above.

You guys helped me when I wanted to retrieve data from my SATA drive from my other laptop. I got a Rosewill module that accommodates a 2.5 and 3.5 SATA drive. So I'm sure there's one for IDE to USB. Matter of fact on my post someone had a link to one.
 
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thank you ./. I am thinking about buying a new highly configured laptop but still want to use my old desktop's IDE PATA disk and Another SATA disk sometimes to copy to laptop
 

Smith6612

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thank you ./. I am thinking about buying a new highly configured laptop but still want to use my old desktop's IDE PATA disk and Another SATA disk sometimes to copy to laptop

If it makes it any easier, you could also set up a PC as a file share and simply share the hard disks you already have over the network. Won't be as fast as USB, Firewire or eSATA ports on a laptop (Do they make many new machines with Thunderbolts? Some high end PCs and Macs seem to have them) unless you're on Gigabit Ethernet but I think having the convenience of doing that rather than carrying a drive around the house might be a nice complement to a drive enclosure.
 

wongers

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actually, get a HDD enclosure that has a RJ45 connection on it, then you can plug it in to your Router and boom. problem solved for ever, Ever!
 
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