Trouble getting HD files from old computer

Daniel N · 08-01-2009, 11:59 PM

Hi there.

I have a really old compaq computer. I would like to take some important files off but i seem to have a problem doing so. The usb ports don't work and i cannot simply burn the files on a cd because the computer doesn't have a burning option. (Yes it is that old) I tried to find some usb drivers for it but i have no idea how to even get them on the computer if i did have them. So the simplest solution i remember doing with my friend is simply hooking up the two computers via a phone connection line, or ethernet or whatever idk if they are the same. But one thing i forgot about was the operating system. Is there a program that lets me hook up both of these computers (one OS: XP and the other OS: windows 95) via the ethernet/phone line?

I could use a floppy disc, but YEAH that would take FOREVER.

If anyone can help????

Thanx

ebackhus · 08-02-2009, 01:40 AM

A crossover cable (type of ethernet cable) will do the trick. I've done it before to put data on a PC that was too stupid (Windows Vista 64) to get itself online.

Daniel N · 08-02-2009, 02:35 PM

Hey

Can i just simply use an Ethernet cable like the one that goes from the router to the computer? Also do i have to have a program to get the information from the older computer or how do i link them together. I've never really done this before. My friend did it for me.

Thanx

Suncoast · 08-05-2009, 01:02 PM

A crossover cable swaps pins 1& 2 with pins 3 and 6. More information here.

If you have a spare Ethernet cable, and you don't mind destroying it, you can split the cable open and rewire it that way. Look at the colors behind the pins. If you see pin 1 as brown, then reverse the order.

Put pin 1 to pin 3, pin 2 to pin 6, pin 3 to pin 1, and pin 6 to pin 2.

This would not support 1000base anything, but older computers don't have that anyway.

**ahmorrow** · 08-06-2009, 10:38 PM

Or you could take the hard drive out of the old computer and throw it in the new one.

Just be sure it's set as primary slave. Set the jumpers to cable select. Then the cable coming from the motherboard to your hard drive needs to go in this order.

Motherboard to Slave to Master.

So Motherboard-->Old HDD-->New HDD.

The crossover cable should work, but I never bothered with networking. Too confusing for me. Taking something out of a tower and putting into another was easy.

Of course you could just get a live version of linux, I suggest Ubuntu, and use a flash drive to copy files over that way. All you'd need to do is go online and either download the iso and burn it on your newer computer or order one for free--note that it may take about 30000 years.

Next pop the cd in the old computer, choose boot from cd and mount your old hard drive and plug in your flash drive... you see where I'm going with this right?

Suncoast · 08-11-2009, 04:40 PM

ahmorrow: Clearly the better solution. Thanks.

**ahmorrow** · 08-11-2009, 08:19 PM

Lol, no problem. I hate trying to make new cables and it seemed like that would be a preferable alternative to getting ethernet crimpers that are like $30 for the absolute crap ones... though you might be able to get away with using a screwdriver, you'd still need the end connector and a cat5 that you probably won't use again.

Glad I could help.

Daniel N · 08-13-2009, 11:39 AM

Ok so if i take the hard drive out of the computer, then what cable will i need to hook up the hard drive to my new computer. Because i don't think the old hard drive will fit into my Dell. It is way tooo big. I've taken a look at the hard drive in the compaq and i just think it is too big. Can i just hook it up with an internal cable of the Dell... like hooking up another hard drive but not putting it in the slot. Or can i hook up the hard drive using like a usb cable or something???

Any Advice thanx

**ahmorrow** · 08-13-2009, 08:18 PM

You might have some luck with a Hard Drive Enclosure that converts IDE to USB, but I wouldn't try it. Also, spinning drives on anything less than a flat unmoving surface is... dangerous to say the least, but I have done it before with few problems--took longer to read/write, missing a file or two, some files corrupted but repaired, etc.

You might be able to set it in one of the larger bays, but that's dangerous as well. Why won't it fit into the Dell? Is it a mini-tower or something?

Daniel N · 08-14-2009, 10:15 PM

I havn't tried to put it into my dell. i just think it will be too big. If i were to attempt this what would i have to do inside the old compaq and then do in the dell? Is there any trouble for the computer to read the third drive since it is sooo old?

Thanks

**ahmorrow** · 08-15-2009, 12:20 AM

As long as the drive is IDE and is in working condition it shouldn't matter. Just remember the guide above--or below.

IDE1 Primary Master -- End of IDE1 == Known good hard drive with working o/s installed.
IDE1 Primary Slave -- Middle of IDE1 == Known good hard drive with dead o/s.
IDE1 MOBO Connection -- Start of IDE1 == Connection to motherboard.
IDE2 doesn't matter at this point.

Primary Master must be set to either MASTER or CS/CABLE SELECT
Primary Slave must be set to either SLAVE or CS/CABLE SELECT

Leave the optical drive and anything attached to it alone.

After you get what you need off of the dead o/s (slave), you should remove the good o/s (master) and pop in the o/s disk of your choice. Be careful not to leave the good hard drive in when you start setup because it could potentially wipe out both hard drives :-P

For more information--honestly useless these days unless the computer is ancient, but still--here's a bit of knowledge brought to you in part by: Google, the fresh maker.

More information than you will EVER need to know about ATA hard drives.

Below are the examples of the Jumper:

Note that this image will probably not reflect the jumper settings for your particular hard disk drive. You need to search the label for that--it won't be hard.

Hopefully you understand this, because I'm almost out of ways to present it to you... lol.

Suncoast · 08-16-2009, 12:54 PM

Umm, just to be on the safe side, are you sure it's an IDE drive? It could be SCSI. Or if the drive has two ribbon cables connected it could be RLL or MFM. Look up the model number of the old drive on the Internet. If you don't understand what you see, post the model number here.

Hard drives do not have to be mounted to work, but it is much safer for the older drives. Just don't move the drive once it is powered up.

**ahmorrow** · 08-16-2009, 01:05 PM

Of course, I'm hoping for the easiest solution and hoping that it's IDE--because it's by far the easiest to set up.

08-01-2009, 11:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Daniel N Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 63 OS: XP Service Pack 2	Trouble getting HD files from old computer Hi there. I have a really old compaq computer. I would like to take some important files off but i seem to have a problem doing so. The usb ports don't work and i cannot simply burn the files on a cd because the computer doesn't have a burning option. (Yes it is that old) I tried to find some usb drivers for it but i have no idea how to even get them on the computer if i did have them. So the simplest solution i remember doing with my friend is simply hooking up the two computers via a phone connection line, or ethernet or whatever idk if they are the same. But one thing i forgot about was the operating system. Is there a program that lets me hook up both of these computers (one OS: XP and the other OS: windows 95) via the ethernet/phone line? I could use a floppy disc, but YEAH that would take FOREVER. If anyone can help???? Thanx

08-02-2009, 01:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,335 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: Trouble getting HD files from old computer A crossover cable (type of ethernet cable) will do the trick. I've done it before to put data on a PC that was too stupid (Windows Vista 64) to get itself online. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

08-02-2009, 02:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Daniel N Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 63 OS: XP Service Pack 2	Re: Trouble getting HD files from old computer Hey Can i just simply use an Ethernet cable like the one that goes from the router to the computer? Also do i have to have a program to get the information from the older computer or how do i link them together. I've never really done this before. My friend did it for me. Thanx

08-05-2009, 01:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
Suncoast Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Largo, FL, USA Posts: 389 OS: XPP, Linux, 2003, Cisco	Re: Trouble getting HD files from old computer A crossover cable swaps pins 1& 2 with pins 3 and 6. More information here. If you have a spare Ethernet cable, and you don't mind destroying it, you can split the cable open and rewire it that way. Look at the colors behind the pins. If you see pin 1 as brown, then reverse the order. Put pin 1 to pin 3, pin 2 to pin 6, pin 3 to pin 1, and pin 6 to pin 2. This would not support 1000base anything, but older computers don't have that anyway.

08-06-2009, 10:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
ahmorrow God (TSF Enthusiast) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Jeffersonville, IN Posts: 905 OS: Ubuntu 9.10 [Karmic Koala] My System	Re: Trouble getting HD files from old computer Or you could take the hard drive out of the old computer and throw it in the new one. Just be sure it's set as primary slave. Set the jumpers to cable select. Then the cable coming from the motherboard to your hard drive needs to go in this order. Motherboard to Slave to Master. So Motherboard-->Old HDD-->New HDD. The crossover cable should work, but I never bothered with networking. Too confusing for me. Taking something out of a tower and putting into another was easy. Of course you could just get a live version of linux, I suggest Ubuntu, and use a flash drive to copy files over that way. All you'd need to do is go online and either download the iso and burn it on your newer computer or order one for free--note that it may take about 30000 years. Next pop the cd in the old computer, choose boot from cd and mount your old hard drive and plug in your flash drive... you see where I'm going with this right? __________________ If I have not responded to a post in 24 hours or more, PM me with a link to the thread and I'll get back to you. I do not help via PM/IM/Email.

08-11-2009, 04:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
Suncoast Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Largo, FL, USA Posts: 389 OS: XPP, Linux, 2003, Cisco	Re: Trouble getting HD files from old computer ahmorrow: Clearly the better solution. Thanks.

08-11-2009, 08:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
ahmorrow God (TSF Enthusiast) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Jeffersonville, IN Posts: 905 OS: Ubuntu 9.10 [Karmic Koala] My System	Re: Trouble getting HD files from old computer Lol, no problem. I hate trying to make new cables and it seemed like that would be a preferable alternative to getting ethernet crimpers that are like $30 for the absolute crap ones... though you might be able to get away with using a screwdriver, you'd still need the end connector and a cat5 that you probably won't use again. Glad I could help. __________________ If I have not responded to a post in 24 hours or more, PM me with a link to the thread and I'll get back to you. I do not help via PM/IM/Email.

08-13-2009, 11:39 AM	#8 (permalink)
Daniel N Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 63 OS: XP Service Pack 2	Re: Trouble getting HD files from old computer Ok so if i take the hard drive out of the computer, then what cable will i need to hook up the hard drive to my new computer. Because i don't think the old hard drive will fit into my Dell. It is way tooo big. I've taken a look at the hard drive in the compaq and i just think it is too big. Can i just hook it up with an internal cable of the Dell... like hooking up another hard drive but not putting it in the slot. Or can i hook up the hard drive using like a usb cable or something??? Any Advice thanx

08-13-2009, 08:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
ahmorrow God (TSF Enthusiast) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Jeffersonville, IN Posts: 905 OS: Ubuntu 9.10 [Karmic Koala] My System	Re: Trouble getting HD files from old computer You might have some luck with a Hard Drive Enclosure that converts IDE to USB, but I wouldn't try it. Also, spinning drives on anything less than a flat unmoving surface is... dangerous to say the least, but I have done it before with few problems--took longer to read/write, missing a file or two, some files corrupted but repaired, etc. You might be able to set it in one of the larger bays, but that's dangerous as well. Why won't it fit into the Dell? Is it a mini-tower or something? __________________ If I have not responded to a post in 24 hours or more, PM me with a link to the thread and I'll get back to you. I do not help via PM/IM/Email.

08-14-2009, 10:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
Daniel N Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 63 OS: XP Service Pack 2	Re: Trouble getting HD files from old computer I havn't tried to put it into my dell. i just think it will be too big. If i were to attempt this what would i have to do inside the old compaq and then do in the dell? Is there any trouble for the computer to read the third drive since it is sooo old? Thanks

08-15-2009, 12:20 AM	#11 (permalink)
ahmorrow God (TSF Enthusiast) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Jeffersonville, IN Posts: 905 OS: Ubuntu 9.10 [Karmic Koala] My System	Re: Trouble getting HD files from old computer As long as the drive is IDE and is in working condition it shouldn't matter. Just remember the guide above--or below. IDE1 Primary Master -- End of IDE1 == Known good hard drive with working o/s installed. IDE1 Primary Slave -- Middle of IDE1 == Known good hard drive with dead o/s. IDE1 MOBO Connection -- Start of IDE1 == Connection to motherboard. IDE2 doesn't matter at this point. Primary Master must be set to either MASTER or CS/CABLE SELECT Primary Slave must be set to either SLAVE or CS/CABLE SELECT Leave the optical drive and anything attached to it alone. After you get what you need off of the dead o/s (slave), you should remove the good o/s (master) and pop in the o/s disk of your choice. Be careful not to leave the good hard drive in when you start setup because it could potentially wipe out both hard drives :-P For more information--honestly useless these days unless the computer is ancient, but still--here's a bit of knowledge brought to you in part by: Google, the fresh maker. More information than you will EVER need to know about ATA hard drives. Below are the examples of the Jumper: Note that this image will probably not reflect the jumper settings for your particular hard disk drive. You need to search the label for that--it won't be hard. Hopefully you understand this, because I'm almost out of ways to present it to you... lol. __________________ If I have not responded to a post in 24 hours or more, PM me with a link to the thread and I'll get back to you. I do not help via PM/IM/Email.

08-16-2009, 12:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
Suncoast Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Largo, FL, USA Posts: 389 OS: XPP, Linux, 2003, Cisco	Re: Trouble getting HD files from old computer Umm, just to be on the safe side, are you sure it's an IDE drive? It could be SCSI. Or if the drive has two ribbon cables connected it could be RLL or MFM. Look up the model number of the old drive on the Internet. If you don't understand what you see, post the model number here. Hard drives do not have to be mounted to work, but it is much safer for the older drives. Just don't move the drive once it is powered up.

08-16-2009, 01:05 PM	#13 (permalink)
ahmorrow God (TSF Enthusiast) Join Date: May 2009 Location: Jeffersonville, IN Posts: 905 OS: Ubuntu 9.10 [Karmic Koala] My System	Re: Trouble getting HD files from old computer Of course, I'm hoping for the easiest solution and hoping that it's IDE--because it's by far the easiest to set up.