How do u retrieve files from an old CPU?

Pardon my ignorance but is there another way i can get my files from an old CPU without reinstalling the whole PC? The old monitor's not working anymore and I still have a few GB of mp3 files which i want to retrieve.

 

You mean your Hard Drive not CPU (which is Central Proccessing Unit) If its a ''SATA'' drive simply put it in another computer as a secondary to the drive with the Operating System on and retrieve to flash/usb HD/or burn to DVD. If its an EIDE drive you will have to move the jumper setting to ''Slave'' and do the same as above.

 

If it's just the monitor that isn't working, attach it to a different one. Most monitors still use connections that have been around for YEARS so you can be sure that even the newest monitor will attach to your old computer with no issues. Then you can use the computer as normal and transfer to data to a USB flash drive or disc.

If the machine has other issues then Toke is correct. You could also buy a 'hard drive caddy' and just slip your old hard drive into it and plug it into any computer with a USB port, then drag-and-drop the files as you would when transferring data to a USB stick.