Computers & Networking

[LadyElan]

Hi, I have an old internal IDE hard drive from a computer that crashed several years ago. The computer I have now has SATA. I was browsing around and saw some hard drive enclosures. If I wanted to get the files from my old IDE hard drive onto my new computer would I buy a USB hard drive enclosure?

Thanks!

[TheLexMachine]

It's hard to find IDE hard drive enclosures in retail these days and nobody really carries them except computer specialty stores. The cheapest thing for you to do is to buy a multi-connector adapter that allows you to connect your drive via USB to your new desktop. That will run you about 20 bucks or so. You'd have to get that online or from a computer store.

[LadyElan]

Thank you, I found some of those online It looks like the hard drive just sits on a desk. Is that safe if there's circuitry that isn't covered up?

This is my hard drive: http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=898

[CrystalWoW Valued Expert]

Umm Best Buy still actively carries IDE enclosures. 

[Entropy]

There are also places where you can get SATA-to-IDE converters for $15-20 (BB is not one of them to my knowledge)

[TheLexMachine]

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CrystalEmployee wrote:

Umm Best Buy still actively carries IDE enclosures. 

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They have one single model for desktop drives which is grossly overpriced. Anyone can get the same product elsewhere in retail for a third of the price.

[TheLexMachine]

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LadyElan wrote:

Thank you, I found some of those online It looks like the hard drive just sits on a desk. Is that safe if there's circuitry that isn't covered up?

This is my hard drive: http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=898

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You'd connect the USB cable with the IDE interface to the drive along with a power adapter and you'd connect the USB plug into your new computer. Then you simply move the files with Windows Explorer.

[LadyElan]

Thanks everyone! I got an IDE to USB adapter and got everything off of my old hard drive.