Retrieving files from hard drive from old desktop to new laptop

Ok, so my desktop is pretty old and it has had some problems lately. I can turn on my desktop and use it for about 5 minutes before it freezes up. I tried opening up and blowing a fan into the cpu thinking it might be an overheating problem and well that did let me run a little longer.

I have a wireless connection and i have been able to get some of the files i want off the desktop but with it freezing up all the time it would takes weeks. So my question is, i was wondering if anyone knows how i can maybe just directly connect this hard drive to my new laptop with a wire? I know you can add hard drives to new desktops as slave drives and all but a laptop is a lot different than that obviously....

urgent please help me because i want to just completely reformat my old desktop but i need these files off there before i can do that!!!

thanks,
TyGuy

 

get you something like this...

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1955450&CatId=2213

This will allow you to plug it into your laptop, and you can keep it around for extra storage on the laptop!!!!

Roger

 

If you have network cards in both systems, you can put an ethernet cable betwixt them and transfer files that way. The particulars of that, I couldn't tell you, but it should work. In addition... if the desktop is overheating that bad, have you checked for lots of dirt and crud in the mobo and CPU, heatsink and fans? Dirt traps heat that the sink and fan would normally vent, so blowing it out with a computer duster (or clean-air, low-PSI air compressor) may alleviate the problem.
Using a jump drive may also work, you can buy a keychain-sized one that fits in a USB port for only a few bones.
If none of my solutions are correct, then go with Roger's.

-- Josh

 

Thanks Roger, that is exactly the kind of thing i was looking for...I just wasn't sure if something of that sort exsisted...It's perfect thank you!