[SOLVED] Quick Question

**Jack.Sparrow** · 08-23-2007, 06:09 PM

Hi all,

I've just got a quick question about an internal harddrive.

I've got this comp, about 2 years old, which was working fine until this morning, when there was a power surge and now it won't turn on. I think the PCU is stuffed (it's got a little light on the back which stays on if there is sufficient power, after the surge, this light is constantly turning on and off and making a clicking noise :S), but because it was so old, I don't see a point in replacing the PCU, so I'm just going to get a new comp, probably with Vista.

My question is, will I be able to simply unplug the HDD from the old comp and plug it into the new one to get my files off it, or is it more complicated then that?

Thanks.

**blackduck30** · 08-23-2007, 06:38 PM

Sorry to hear you lost a system from a surge.

As for being able to plug the old drive in and retrieve files by rights you should be able to do that as long as the drive was not also damaged.
If it is an IDE drive you may have to set it to slave via the jumpers depending of how you connect it

Tumbleweed36 · 08-23-2007, 07:02 PM

Might be worth trying to clear the CMOS if you had a power surge. Some times, that will mess up the Bios Setup menu so much that it will do all kinds of weird things. It won't hurt anything and might be worth a try.

**Jack.Sparrow** · 08-24-2007, 03:15 AM

Thanks guys.

How do I clear the CMOS?

**Deleted090308** · 08-24-2007, 03:48 AM

First ground yourself by touching a radiator or the computer case.
Then unplug the computer from the wall outlet and open the case.
Remove the little "coin-like" battery on the motherboard.
Move the "Reset bios" jumper on the motherboard from pins 1&2 to pins 2&3.
Wait for 30 minutes.
Replace the jumper to pins 1&2.
Put the battery back.
Close the case and start the computer.
Enter BIOS and choose "Load setup defaults" (or something similar) - save and exit BIOS.

**Jack.Sparrow** · 08-24-2007, 07:13 AM

Thanks.

Another question while I'm here. Can I convert this internal HDD into an external one?

ceri sheeran · 08-24-2007, 12:13 PM

Hi,

Internal hard drive to external is a matter of buying a USB 3½" external drive enclosure and mounting the drive in it.

You will normally need to set the drive jumpers to Master from any other setting i.e. Slave or Cable Select.

hth

Ceri

**Jack.Sparrow** · 08-24-2007, 08:39 PM

KK, Thanks. Bought my new pc today, so I'll get to all this in a day or two.

Thanks to everyone who read and responed.

**Jack.Sparrow** · 09-01-2007, 02:56 AM

Bought the casing today, works like a charm.

Thanks for the help guys.

**Deleted090308** · 09-01-2007, 03:35 AM

Good news.

08-23-2007, 06:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jack.Sparrow Resident Pirate Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Qld, Aus Posts: 17,867 OS: XP SP3/Vista SP1 My System Blog Entries: 6	[SOLVED] Quick Question Hi all, I've just got a quick question about an internal harddrive. I've got this comp, about 2 years old, which was working fine until this morning, when there was a power surge and now it won't turn on. I think the PCU is stuffed (it's got a little light on the back which stays on if there is sufficient power, after the surge, this light is constantly turning on and off and making a clicking noise :S), but because it was so old, I don't see a point in replacing the PCU, so I'm just going to get a new comp, probably with Vista. My question is, will I be able to simply unplug the HDD from the old comp and plug it into the new one to get my files off it, or is it more complicated then that? Thanks. __________________ //PC Wizard//Speedfan//Can you run it?//Posting Screenshots//Posting System Specs//Donations//

08-23-2007, 06:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
blackduck30 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,230 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Quick Question Sorry to hear you lost a system from a surge. As for being able to plug the old drive in and retrieve files by rights you should be able to do that as long as the drive was not also damaged. If it is an IDE drive you may have to set it to slave via the jumpers depending of how you connect it __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All

08-23-2007, 07:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,488 OS: XP Professional	Re: Quick Question Might be worth trying to clear the CMOS if you had a power surge. Some times, that will mess up the Bios Setup menu so much that it will do all kinds of weird things. It won't hurt anything and might be worth a try. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

08-24-2007, 03:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
Jack.Sparrow Resident Pirate Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Qld, Aus Posts: 17,867 OS: XP SP3/Vista SP1 My System Blog Entries: 6	Re: Quick Question Thanks guys. How do I clear the CMOS? __________________ //PC Wizard//Speedfan//Can you run it?//Posting Screenshots//Posting System Specs//Donations//

08-24-2007, 03:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Quick Question First ground yourself by touching a radiator or the computer case. Then unplug the computer from the wall outlet and open the case. Remove the little "coin-like" battery on the motherboard. Move the "Reset bios" jumper on the motherboard from pins 1&2 to pins 2&3. Wait for 30 minutes. Replace the jumper to pins 1&2. Put the battery back. Close the case and start the computer. Enter BIOS and choose "Load setup defaults" (or something similar) - save and exit BIOS.

08-24-2007, 07:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
Jack.Sparrow Resident Pirate Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Qld, Aus Posts: 17,867 OS: XP SP3/Vista SP1 My System Blog Entries: 6	Re: Quick Question Thanks. Another question while I'm here. Can I convert this internal HDD into an external one? __________________ //PC Wizard//Speedfan//Can you run it?//Posting Screenshots//Posting System Specs//Donations// Last edited by Jack.Sparrow; 08-24-2007 at 07:33 AM.

08-24-2007, 12:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
ceri sheeran Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 285 OS: WINXP	Re: Quick Question Hi, Internal hard drive to external is a matter of buying a USB 3½" external drive enclosure and mounting the drive in it. You will normally need to set the drive jumpers to Master from any other setting i.e. Slave or Cable Select. hth Ceri

08-24-2007, 08:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
Jack.Sparrow Resident Pirate Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Qld, Aus Posts: 17,867 OS: XP SP3/Vista SP1 My System Blog Entries: 6	Re: Quick Question KK, Thanks. Bought my new pc today, so I'll get to all this in a day or two. Thanks to everyone who read and responed. __________________ //PC Wizard//Speedfan//Can you run it?//Posting Screenshots//Posting System Specs//Donations//

09-01-2007, 02:56 AM	#9 (permalink)
Jack.Sparrow Resident Pirate Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Qld, Aus Posts: 17,867 OS: XP SP3/Vista SP1 My System Blog Entries: 6	Re: Quick Question Bought the casing today, works like a charm. Thanks for the help guys. __________________ //PC Wizard//Speedfan//Can you run it?//Posting Screenshots//Posting System Specs//Donations//

09-01-2007, 03:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Quick Question Good news.