Slaving a Hard Drive

[Ferris]

So, here's the deal:

My Dell Dimension 4700 (XP... I don't know if it's SP 1,2, or 3) no longer boots up, giving me the following error:

loading PBR for Descriptor 2...done

Well, that's it... stops there. I don't have an F8 option, so I'm unable to boot to safe mode. Also, when I use the recovery CD to boot from, it checks the hardware configuration, and then... well, that's it.

I've got a new PC (Windows 7) that's just arrived at the house today (Dell Studio XPS 8100 with Core i7-860 processor) and I want to get some of the files off of my old Hard Drive. As I understand it, this is possible by slaving the old internal HDD to the new internal HDD... I have an external HD, but haven't backed up to it in nearly 12 months (lesson learned).... I also have

I've found about a dozen different articles explaining how to do this, and it's making my head spin. Has anyone here slaved their hard drive before? If so, what tools (aside from a screwdriver) might I need to accomplish this? Also, if you happen to know of a preferred step-by-step or set of reference materials for me to use, I'd greatly appreciate it...

I just REALLY don't want to botch this new machine.

Thanks, in advance for your help!

[Septimus Prime]

It's going to be difficult for you to do this because your intended slave drive already has an OS.

My recommendation is to, instead of trying to do that, take out your old drive and put it into an external USB enclosure. You can then just plug that right in, grab the files you want, and then format it.

[brettallica]

Originally Posted by Septimus Prime

It's going to be difficult for you to do this because your intended slave drive already has an OS.

My recommendation is to, instead of trying to do that, take out your old drive and put it into an external USB enclosure. You can then just plug that right in, grab the files you want, and then format it.

I disagree that it will be difficult based on the reason you gave. I mean, files are files. The computer will see the drive regardless. It doesn't matter if there's an OS on it.

I do agree with you, however, that the easiest method is to get a SATA-to-USB adapter/enclosure and just plugging in to the USB port. That involves buying something (and waiting for it to arrive, if you buy it online), though, which sucks.

Either way, grabbing files will be the same because the computer will see the drive the same way; it'll just appear as a drive connected to the system.

[Septimus Prime]

I honestly haven't slaved a drive since the days of E-IDE and Windows 2000. Back then, whenever I had an OS on the slave drive, the PC would want to boot it, which sucked. Playing around with the jumpers sucked, too.

But yeah. My bad about that. I still stand by my recommendation, though.

[brettallica]

Originally Posted by Septimus Prime

I honestly haven't slaved a drive since the days of E-IDE and Windows 2000. Back then, whenever I had an OS on the slave drive, the PC would want to boot it, which sucked. Playing around with the jumpers sucked, too.

But yeah. My bad about that. I still stand by my recommendation, though.

True dat. Both parts. I recommend the hard drive adapter as well since that means you don't have to open the computer's case, but like I was saying, that means buying parts (and possibly waiting for them to arrive).

If it's an IDE situation for the old drive and his new computer also used the IDE interface, then it would be tricky since you're bringing jumpers into the equation. I'm fairly certain we're dealing with SATA for both computers, though. It should be cake. Pretty much plug and play.

[Ferris]

Thank you both for the information. Brettallica, you are correct in that it is a SATA drive( so is the new one), so hopefully that means it's relatively simple. I'm hoping that fact that the old HDD is partitioned won't complicate things. I'm just hoping there is an issue with the BIOS piece of that drive, and not the memory itself. I tried repairing the partition using Hiren's BootCD, but was unsuccessful. Aside from that, I didn't want to mess with it too much, as I'm certainly no professional.

If there happens to be a virus on the old HDD, would McAfee (on my new PC) be able to detect it? I would just hate to bring a virus to my new machine!

Thanks again, guys!

[brettallica]

Septimus Prime's suggestion is also very good, so consider that as well if you don't feel like opening the case of your new computer (which is understandable).

As far as getting the data off the drive and worrying about whether the drive has a virus, you should be just fine. Just be sure not to run any .exe, .zip, or anything that "runs" from that drive. Just copy the files you need (music, pictures, other documents, etc.), then wipe the drive once you're sure you've gotten everything you need. For re-installation of programs, do fresh installs; i.e. don't try to copy the install from one drive to the other. Just start fresh.

If the old drive is checks out as healthy after the re-format, then you can use it as a second drive in your new computer, or just put it back in your old computer and install an operating system, then sell that computer.

[brettallica]

Slaving a hard drive is not a difficult task, so don't trip. What is the hard drive interface of your old hard drive? It'll most likely be SATA, but may be IDE. If it's IDE, then you might have a little more of a complication on your hands, but nothing you can't still easily overcome.

According to the support documents on Dell's website for this computer (found here), it looks like it's probably a SATA drive. That will make this process very easy. You'll basically just need to open the case and plug in the new drive to an available SATA port; there will probably be four of them on your motherboard. You will have to go into the system's BIOS after you plug in the new drive and enable the SATA port that you just used to plug in your old drive. From there, when you boot up, your computer will see the drive in Windows, and all your files will be there.