laptop / monitor query

I hope I am in the right forum for this. I have a friend who has a laptop, the screen of which suddenly won't work at all.. Is there a way it can be plugged into a desktop PC monitor so that photos etc on the laptop HD can be retrieved.

Sorry if I am not explaining this too well
Happy New Year to all
Pammy

 

This is the easiest way.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/5811/dxusbide9342374.jpg

You can get them at most PC shops or online.

http://www.cwol.com/usb/usb-2-ide-adapter-ud200.htm

 

Thanks Bill....but I not at all techy minded..so what exactly do I do with that please?....I mean....I plug it into a usb port on the laptop I guess...but then what????
How do I "tell" the laptop what to do - what to save etc etc....??

Pam

 

P.S. I have an external HD...is there any way I can use that?? or alternatively, is there a way I can "bypass" the laptop monitor and use my own monitor???

Somebody once said there is no such thing as a stupid question...welll..I think I am proving them wrong..lo;/
Thank God for forums like this one !!
Pam

 

What you do is connect it to the hard drive ion the laptop and plug in the power cord that comes with it, then plug the USB into you PC where you want to save the data.

It's as easy as that, the only thing you need then is time, depending on how much data you want to retrieve from the laptop.

 

Ok...so it automatically starts to download then???
Another question....you say it depends on how much data I want to retrieve...how and where do I get the opportunity to actually choose...will that all show on the PC that it is plugged into???
Pam

 

It will show up as an external drive on the PC and you open it just as you would any other drive then select the file you want to save and transfer them to where you want to save them.

You can connect the laptop to the main PC via networking but it is not a thing i know much about and i would hate to give you false information, there are plenty of members here who understand the concept better than me, so if you post a request in "networking" i have no doubt the help will be forthcoming.

 

thanks heaps for your help Bill....I will get one of the adapters on Monday..and see how I go from there...
Your help has been much appreciated
Pam

 

Here is an article that is worth reading Pammy it give a good description on how it works.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2005/08/21/usb_2_0_to_ide_cable_version_2/

 

OH GOD !!!!
Now I am really lost......lol
I guess I will just go and buy an adapter and hope that the guy (or girl) in the shop, takes pity of me and my usual many questions....

Maybe I will print out the page you sent me and ask them to explain it...
Pam