Recovering data from hard drive off of dead motherboard

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by RE2LeonS, Jan 24, 2010.

  1. RE2LeonS

    RE2LeonS Private First Class

    So I'm on my 4th dead motherboard from Gateway in 3 years (obviously I'm done with Gateway) and I have information I need to get off my hard drive. I'm not about to spend $200 getting my motherboard replaced for a 5th time just for it to die with in the year to get my files. I tried to plug my hard drive into my desktop internally but the cords wouldn't connect. So I'm wondering is there a way I can hook everything up w/ USB's and fish around for the files I need and transfer them? My school managed to some how recover my data the 3rd time my motherboard died so I was wondering if there was a way I could do the same?
     
  2. sach2

    sach2 Major Geek Extraordinaire

    I'm guessing one HD is SATA and one is IDE/PATA http://blog.taragana.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/sata-pata-cables-295x3001.jpg. Is this the reason you can't make the connection?

    If it is then you can get a USB cable that will allow you to attach the drive. Is the drive you want to recover data from PATA (wide cable as in top pic)?

    Post back if this sums up the situation and I hope someone that actually owns such a cable can give you a pointer to an appropriate one. I think you are looking for a cable that comes with an external power supply to attach to the HD to make sure it gets enough power as the USB connection may not be enough on its own.
     
  3. scajjr

    scajjr Sergeant

    I own a couple of these. Come in very handy.

    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2329300&CatId=3770


    Sam
     
  4. RE2LeonS

    RE2LeonS Private First Class

    Actually no, both hard drives used the wide one but the weird thing was is that one had more pins than the other, it was the same width though. It was a notebook hard drive trying to be put into a desktop tower

    http://www.tigerdirect.com/include/...dpNo=2329300&csid=ITD&Sku=M501-1220&imgcart=1

    wow that's exactly what I need. That's what I meant by same length but different pins. Dang I have all these cords but nothing like that. Guess I'll have to fork over the $20 and just buy those cables. Thank you
     

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