Getting data from one hard drive to another one

[bullroar]

We have an oldish Vaio which has had a number of problems for a little while now, it has now decided not to switch on. The hard drive is (I am pretty sure) ok but clearly cannot be accessed if the machine will not turn on. The machine finally packed up on the day a new one arrived. So what I would like to do is remove the drive from the old and then find some way to transfer the data from it to the new laptop.

Can I simply remove the drive, find a lead with a fancy plug on one end and a USB connection on the other then plug the latter into the new one and see the old drive as an external drive? Or is life going to be horribly more complicated than that?

[robpaxton]

I know Maplin do a IDE to USB2 cable but I can't say I've seen a Mini IDE to USB cable. You could get an external drive bay and use that though.

If you have access to a desktop computer then Mini IDE to Standard IDE adapters are very inexpensive.

[robpaxton]

That's the job. Your IT guys might already have a cable lying about to do the job for you if you're lucky

It's a good idea to pop the drive out to look at the connector before getting the cable as some drives have flat connectors instead of the standard 44 pin connection.

[bullroar]

Cheers, would the cable you suggest be this one:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=28724&doy=30m11D

If so I then just have to find a desktop, I might have to call in some favours from our IT guys at work.

[kee-lo_]

If you're lucky the IT guys might have one of those fancy copying machines