Old Vista Hard drive to New Win 7 Laptop

[skyrivet66]

I bought a new Sony Vaio Window 7 Laptop Computer.
HRDDRV: 500 GB
Processor: Intel i3 2.10 Ghrtz

Old Laptop was a Sony Vaio running Windows Vista. The power cord was severed beyond repair. I've removed the hard drive from the old laptop. I want to transfer the files from the removed Hard Drive and restore them on the New Windows 7 Sony Vaio laptop.

The "Windows easy transfer" option does not seem possible because the hard drive from the old computer is removed. I do have a cable and I can transfer files individually but this doesn't seem like the most efficient method considering I ultimately want to restore these files (Do a system restore) on the new computer and not simply transfer them.

Looking for any help or advice you can offer---
Thanks
J R

[strollin]

There are USB adapters and USB docks available that will allow you to connect your old HDD to your new laptop to be able to transfer data. If the old HDD is an IDE then a USB adapter like this: USB IDE Adapter will work (also works for SATA). If the old HDD is SATA a dock like this: USB HDD Dock is really easy to use.

Either of these will let you attach an HDD to your laptop as an external drive without the need to install it in an external enclosure which is another possibility for you.

[jdeb]

The only thing I can think of besides using the usb cable to just move the files is this...

Take the hard drive and put it into another computer and do a repair installation. Then run easy transfer. That is easier for someone like me because I have a few test rigs.

Or get another power cord, you can find them cheap enough.

[skyrivet66]

Is it possible to run easy transfer with one of these SATA docking stations? I was looking at the: KINGWIN 2.5"/3.5" SATA TO USB 2.0 & eSATA ONE TOUCH BACKUP HARD DRIVE.

[skyrivet66]

I wish I could put it in a case. I don't have one available. Unfortunately the powercord was severed inside the case. I repaired it once. lasted for a while. Now computer is kaput. I want to run easy transfer. I will try the docking station.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by skyrivet66 Is it possible to run easy transfer with one of these SATA docking stations? I was looking at the: KINGWIN 2.5"/3.5" SATA TO USB 2.0 & eSATA ONE TOUCH BACKUP HARD DRIVE.

Not that I am aware of.

[skyrivet66]

Originally Posted by jdeb Not that I am aware of.

If I can't do an easy transfer, is there a way to restore the files on the old hard drive so the new computer is essentially the old computer in a new skin?

[strollin]

The problem with your desire to use Easy Transfer is that you need to run it from a booted up machine. Since you can't boot the old laptop, you won't be able to use Easy Transfer.

When you plug your old HDD into the USB docking station, it will appear as another drive on your new system. You will be able to copy any data from the old drive to the new. Programs can't be copied and will need to be re-installed.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by skyrivet66 If I can't do an easy transfer, is there a way to restore the files on the old hard drive so the new computer is essentially the old computer in a new skin?

Not that I am aware of. As mentioned, Easy Transfer requires the source Pc to be booted in the Window's environment.

[skyrivet66]

Got it. Thanks. All kinds of messages come up about merging similarly named files when copying old files over to the new harddrive. Destination files have names that are too long and so forth . . . permissions etc. It's my hope the transferred data will be available to the applications on the new computer without too much hassle. For example, will picasa see the transferred photos and Itunes pickup the transferred music files?

[skyrivet66]

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[jdeb]

Originally Posted by skyrivet66 Got it. Thanks. All kinds of messages come up about merging similarly named files when copying old files over to the new harddrive. Destination files have names that are too long and so forth . . . permissions etc. It's my hope the transferred data will be available to the applications on the new computer without too much hassle. For example, will picasa see the transferred photos and Itunes pickup the transferred music files?

should be fine

[skyrivet66]

cool. thanks