So the motherboard in my laptop finally gave up the ghost, rendering it completely useless. The problem is that I have a lot of music and pictures on that hard-drive that I would rather not lose.

I was looking on newegg at the zillion external enclosures they have and really have no clue which one would be appropriate for a laptop drive. I just need something that will work to transfer all of the files to a desktop, then maybe use the drive as a back-up or archive occasionally.

Will any enclosure with an IDE interface work or do I need something geared for laptop drives in particular?

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

First, what interface does the drive on your laptop have? SATA or IDE?

 

once u figure that out, just get the bridge to USB and plug into your desktop to transfer away...

 

It's IDE.
Thanks. Not sure what that is (just an adapter?), but I'll search around newegg and see what I can find.

 

Didn't make it back in time to edit my previous.

Is this what you're talking about? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-101-_-Product

 

ok second question.

do you plan on leaving the drive in the enclosure or is this just to get the stuff off the drive then going in a drawer?

 

^ that looks like it may be made for a 3.5" drive (full size desktop) so also get one of these 2.5" to 3.5" adapters:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812203012

 

Get the stuff off and go in a drawer. It's a slow, old 80 gig drive that I wouldn't trust as an archive/backup anyway.

Aha! Thanks, I would have missed that.

 

You can use the adapter stogie just posted if you want to hook the drive up INSIDE the desktop or when getting an IDE enclosure.

The other option is a 2.5 USB enclosure to copy the stuff off with something like this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-008-_-Product

 

Just get this one, it'll work with 2.5", 3.5" IDE and SATA. That way if you have to do the same with a desktop drive down the road you're ready.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812816114

 

I use a Coolmax multifunction adapter. It will do IDE 3.5/2.5 and SATA. It even powers the 2.5 and SATA drives through the adapter.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...062&Tpk=cd-350

 

Thanks for the help folks! I was having trouble sorting through all the choices but I think you guys got me pointed in the right direction now.

 

great stuff. needed to know the same info.

 

I need a pancake to waffle converter.

I also need a calorie to antimatter converter.