Another Problem

L

Lisa252

New Member
Now I have another problem. When I bought this computer, I needed to transfer a lot of the files but since my usb ports were dead the guy at the store suggested the veris mx-1 to put my hard drive in and transfer stuff easily. Ok, got the hard drive out, tried to insert it in the verdis, and it seems like the data port does not match up. So I started looking at the info and is says it is to transfer stuff from a sata drive (the guy at the store said it would work for any drive). How do I tell if I have a sata drive? On the drive it says it is a hitachi deskstar and i can give other info if needed. Can anybody help? If this is not a match for my drive, is there another that will work? I would appreciate any help before I chunk the driver out the back door:mad:
 
sata top. ata\ide bottem
sata.jpg
 
The big difference between an ide drive is the type of connection and interface. An ide drive will see a wide connector just like you would see on an ide cd or dvd drive. A sata drive uses a 7pin connector seen on a much thinner cable like seen in the image here.

satacablescm9.jpg


The most common method of transferring files and folders from one drive to another is either by creating a disk image with something like Norton Ghost or Acronis software or the slower direct copy and paste with two explorer windows open with the old drive put into a new case. For an ide drive that would be set as a slave to the OS host drive if both are ide. For sata drives each unless matched in an array is a primary master or slave if not a secondary master or slave still seen as another logical drive by the host.

One method for rescuing data on drive with an inaccessible partition is by way of booting with a live for cd Linux distro like Knoppix live for cd or ubuntu as another where the hard drives installed are seen as desktop icons.

Linux is free to download but takes some getting familiar with. Knoppix was often recommended being an easier live distro to work with compared to others. Without working usb ports pointing at a board problem there you may want to see that replaced and later transfer files after the host drive is setup for a new board if not the same make and model.

For a idifferent model board the OS drive is usually reformatted to see a clean install of Windows first. Later you could try an external usb adapter or simply add that drive in for temporary data retrieval. With both types of drives used here either direct copy or burning data dvds seems to work for saving files. Without a burner direct copy and paste would work since the adapter and program haven't. And that is an ide type drive for simply setting as a slaved drive for this.
 
WHEW! That is WAY over my head. I could follow you until you got to the linux stuff. I have looked a Linux before but it is way more complicated than I want to get into for what I do. But let me ask you this before I go to any more trouble. IF I get something that will let me transfer files, is it going to make a difference that my new computer has vista and the old has xp? Would I even be able to transfer the files with 2 different windows systems?
 
The main thing to be concerned with there is any important files that can be used on either version of Windows. The live cd version of Linux surprisingly isn't that complicated. It's simply getting accustomed to the different desktop and method of copying files. I keep a few live distros onhand for problem drives here just in case. That's more of a last resort method for the average Windows user.

The most practical advice often seen is simply put as "frequent backups" onto removable media when possible. Many now simply use a second partition or even second hard drive to store files safely there if? something goes wrong. The problem you saw was a sales person anxious to sell things and not explain alternatives.
 
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