How to transfer data between two hard drives?

Question

I had a Gateway computer with Windows XP, and a lot of important programs and files. That computer stopped working, so we got an older computer with Windows 2000. I want to know how to transfer data from the Windows XP computer to our computer with Windows 2000 if the one with XP doesn't turn on at all anymore.

Additional Details

Can someone send me a video or pictures of how to do this?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

I had somewhat of the same problem a few months ago. First I had to determine what kind of hard drive I had. From looking at the hard drive I saw that it was a SATA hard drive (it was printed on the label). I then pulled the hard drive from my old computer, being careful not to shock it. I went online and got a SATA to IDE cable. This cable allows you to basically turn your old internal hard drive into a external hard drive. I wouldn't recommend keeping it this way. I only used it temporarily in order to get files I really needed off of my old hard drive. After connecting the hard drive to the SATA to IDE cable I connected the other end into a USB port on my new computer. It opened just like a regular flash drive. If you take this route, make sure you don't shock your hard drive by dropping it or applying pressure to it. Doing so would cause your hard drive to stop working. Not saying it wouldn't be able to be accessed, but 9 times out of 10 you would have to take it to a shop and pay extra money for them to try to restore the information. An alternate medthod would be using your old hard drive as a second drive. If you have the slot avalible in your computer you can do so. I would recommend this over the first method. Hopefully this helps you. If you are interested in buying a SATA to IDE able you can purchase one at almost any store that sells computer accessories. I got mine from Tiger Direct (http://www.tigerdirect.com). Good luck.

Answer 2

definitely you can put the hard disks together in one computer and easily transfer the files as many as you like =)

Answer 3

Move the hardrive from the PC that doesn't work to the PC that does. Set the working PC's hard drive as the "master" (using the jumpers) and set the non-working PC's hard drive as "slave" (again, using the jumpers). You can move info all you like after that. Good luck. : )