I have kept the old hard drive and wonder how I can retrieve my photos.
I did buy a SATA cable but not quite sure how to use it.
Any Ideas ?
yvonne.lundeandreassen.9 0 Newbie Poster
rubberman 1,355 Nearly a Posting Virtuoso Featured Poster
Well, what you need to do depends upon whether you are running Linux (or other *nix), or Windows. If Windows, it will find and mount the file system automatically, as drive E: or something. If linux, you will probably need to manually mount it on your file system. So, let us know what operating system you are running, and we can better help you.
yvonne.lundeandreassen.9 0 Newbie Poster
Thanks,-the system is windows Vista
Slavi 94 Master Poster Featured Poster
Did you try to connect it?
yvonne.lundeandreassen.9 0 Newbie Poster
Thanks Slavi,
no I haven't yet connected it to the Dell as
I left this at a friends place.
Will have a try as soon as I collect it.
LaxLoafer 71 Posting Whiz in Training
Use a USB to IDE/SATA cable, such as this:
This one supports 2.5 and 3.5 inch IDE drives (PATA), SATA devices, and includes a separate power supply. Once connected it's no more difficult than using a USB thumb drive.
For more info try searching the web for USB to IDE/SATA cables....
Alternatively, to make use of the SATA cable you have already...
Start by opening your computer case and invalidating your warranty. Rummage a round for a spare SATA slot, taking care not to dislodge anything too important, and plug-in the SATA cable.
Attach the other end to the hard drive, assuming it has a SATA interface. If the drive is more than ten years old it'll probably have a PATA interface. Unfortunately PATA and SATA are totally incompatible no matter how far you bend pins.
The drive will also need power. Computer manufacturers know just how useful a spare power connector can be for users looking to upgrade their systems instead of purchasing new ones, so you might just get lucky. If not purchase a power cable splitter, or borrow the one from the CD/DVD drive.
On booting the system you may need to change the SATA configuration or BIOS settings to specify a drive letter for the disk. Choose a letter that is higher than any current drives. Refrain from changing the boot order.
Oh, and don't forget to switch your computer off before trying the above. Perhaps I should have mentioned that first.
yvonne.lundeandreassen.9 0 Newbie Poster
Thanks...Gulp !.... as an (ancient) dummie I'll have to print and read this carefully.
However the offending machine is currently sat
sulking at a friends place. So shall try your advice when I collect it.
LaxLoafer 71 Posting Whiz in Training
Something went missing from my last post...
Use a USB to IDE/SATA cable, such as this:
This one supports 2.5 and 3.5 inch IDE drives (PATA), SATA devices, and includes a separate power supply. Once connected it's no more difficult than using a USB thumb drive.
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