Help, getting files off old hard drive 5.25

[captainkelly]

Looking for ideas on temporally installing my old computers hard drive(quantum 5.25 Bigfoot TX IDE windows 98) to my newer system (XP 250gb) for the sole purpose of retrieving pictures and files. I had planned to purchase a case from newegg and add it thru a USP port but not sure they would physically fit the old drive. Now after reading some of the posts here I am getting cold feet. I can imagine xp will renumber all the drives. Something I had not considered. Anyone see a cheap case out there I can use for this. I will destroy the drive when I am finished so I would like to get off as cheap as possible. Also what problems with the OS can I expect? I would appreciate any advice. Kelly...

[Dave21]

Have you considered getting a 8 gb USB key and transfer the files that way? They go for around $30. Or you can even zip the files and send to your email or another storage site such as megaupload and then download the files.

[Cricket]

Just use something like this (http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=USB2IDE-25-35&cpc=SCH)...no sense getting a housing if you're not going to keep the HDD.

:) Cricket

[EzyStvy]

I can imagine xp will renumber all the drives. Something I had not considered.

Not sure why you're concerned about this....Any drive you add by any method will be assigned a drive letter...It won't matter what drive letter the old one becomes. You'll still be able to access the files and copy them over.

Just make the old drive a slave drive and copy away.

[mikeL]

yep slave it to the computer and copy the files you want. It don't get any easier then that.

[captainkelly]

Thanks for the input. You all have been very helpful. I forget to mention I only have the hard drive and one computer. Didn't want to dig it out from under my desk and open it either. I think Cricket has come up with the answer that fits my needs. Good to hear that the renumbering won't be a problem. Thought it might cause problems with some of my programs. Thanks again for all the quick responses. I really appreciate the help from everyone who took time to reply. kelly.....

[patrickt]

Well, if you don't want to open it you're pretty much out of luck.

The last time I did that, I opened the side panel, plugged in a power plug and an IDE cable, copies the files, unplugged everything and put it back under my desk. It took a total of about thirty minutes.

[glc]

Well, if you don't want to open it you're pretty much out of luck.

Nope, that's what USB adapters are for. This one is essentially the same price as the one Cricket recommended, and more versatile:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=2020&cat=HDD

*ALL* technicians should put one of these in their toolbox.

[Techx10]

I really want one of those. Definately a toolbox item. But they are out of stock. Guess I'll have to wait. That is the answer to "snatching" some files from an old HD. Great forum !! I sure am glad I found it.

[glc]

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=2020-OTB&cat=HDD

Same thing, with the addition of a one touch backup.