Hello,
my hdd is broken and i tried to use the hdd of my old laptop. i have a usb case and connected it to my laptop and it found it but couldnt resume windows. someone told me that i cant use an installed version of windows xp on a different laptop so i reinstaled windows xp on the hdd through the usb.
but its still not working. i quick resarted xp and it copied all the data from all 5 cds. but when i restart the computer the xp sign comes up but it doesnt boot properly. it says resume windows normally (or in safe mode etc etc.) and when i clck yes it restarts again and the same thing comes up.
coud the poblem be that i have connected the hdd through the usb and didnt connect it from the bottom side? in bios it still cant detect any hdd. maybe because the only hdd that is connected to the comp is the one through usb.

can this problem be solved if i plug it properly where the damaged hdd used to be or would it be the same as connecting it via usb?
i changed the boot order too. to usb.
any thoughts?
thanks alot!

and if i was to buy a new hdd what model would it have to be? can i use any hdd that has the same connection as the broken hdd had? or is there something like an adapter than can change the connection type?
thanks alot

Windows doesn't like to boot from USB.

It's easy enough to replace the drive in your laptop. Your local computer consultant can do the job in half an hour. I don't want you to do it yourself because you may strip the screws for that drive and create a headache.

You can read on my website at http://www.slowlap.com about what's involved. Laptop manufacturers all use either SATA or PATA drives, but they also have a nasty habit of putting custom connectors on top of them, which confuses most people into thinking that it's a non-standard drive.

What's the exact make/model of your laptop?

hi wiseleo and thanks for ur reply. i took a look at ur website and its very informative.
im using an ACER Aspire 7520 series with a sata hdd
i found an 'ide to sata converter' online. would that solve my problem or is my old ide hdd (the one with the pins) not compatible with a new laptop?
u mentioned that windows doesnt like to boot from the usb. what about linux? im fed up with microsoft products anyway.
thanks alot

this is the device btw
http://www.startech.com/item/IDE2SAT25- ... apter.aspx

You will not be able to use a PATA drive inside a SATA laptop with any adapters.

Buy a new SATA drive. Do yourself a favor and get a 7200RPM drive. You may also run into another problem with SATA drivers when trying to reinstall Windows.

A local computer consultant can help you. Alternatively, use an Acer recovery disk to rebuild the laptop with a new drive. This is not a data recovery or HDD repair question.

"This is not a data recovery or HDD repair question"

oh really. and where am i supposed to ask this question? in the hard drives for sale section?
its related to the original issue which is a hdd issue. sometimes we need to see things in context.
no need to reply maybe someone else has any thoughts on this. any input appreciated.

Please allow me to clarify my response.

1. You stated that you formatted the drive which you are attempting to use. That means the data on it is not important. That makes it not a data recovery issue.
2. You stated that you are trying to use a PATA drive in a SATA laptop. The drive is healthy. That makes it not an HDD repair issue.

I told you that under virtually no circumstances, short of replacing the PCB board on the PATA drive and thus converting it to SATA, will you be able to use that drive in your SATA laptop. That is not a cost-effective method, but for some drives it may actually be an option.

No add-on converters will fit as there is zero clearance. It's very inexpensive to purchase a SATA laptop drive and call the case closed, which was what I suggested.

Example of a data recovery issue "I formatted the hard drive with my first-born child's pictures".
Example of an HDD repair issue "I plugged in a laptop power supply into my external drive and it went up in smoke".

At this stage, I told you what you needed to know, and further questions such as Linux and related can be answered but they are not exactly related to data recovery and hdd repair, hence that would be an off-topic thread from my perspective. You would get much better support from a dedicated Linux on external drives forum. I personally use Linux daily as well as Windows.

It is certainly possible to run Linux from an external drive. It is not advisable to attempt to run Windows from an external drive connected by USB. eSATA drives connected to on-board SATA ports via a SATA-eSATA interface cable should work, in theory. I will be testing that theory.

So, here's a possibility for you to prove this point. Open up the laptop, connect a regular 12" SATA cable to the internal SATA port inside the laptop's drive bay. Connect the SATA to ATA adapter. Connect the ATA (40pin) to Laptop ATA (44pin) adapter. Guess what, you just made a PATA laptop drive compatible with a SATA laptop. You could also do that but go a step further and use a SATA to eSATA cable, connect it to an eSATA enclosure, and then reverse convert the SATA back to PATA and then step it down to a laptop PATA interface.

You would use http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6812203012 and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822998008 (this exact unit is shipped with Salvation Data products, if I recognize it correctly)

You would also need a Molex-terminated power supply. The one that comes with a Coolmax CD-350, which I use daily, would be acceptable. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6812104062

It will look ugly, it requires a form of laptop disassembly, but it could be done in theory. The drive definitely won't inside the bay flush as a new SATA drive would. That would be reminiscent of hooking up an old 25-pin SCSI drive to a modern Ultra-320 controller on an 80-pin SCA backplane. It can be done, but it's pointless for all practical end-user purposes.

I use a similar combination chain in data recovery scenarios because our special equipment has built-in PATA ports and we use it to repair SATA drives.

I did not intend to sound rude and thank you for asking it. I am including an explanation to your question in my book in the SATA vs. PATA chapter.

If you happen to find yourself talking to a data recovery professional and catch a glimpse of what we charge for recovering data, you will agree that the $60 or so that it costs to purchase a new 2.5" SATA drive is immaterial as compared to what we'll charge for our services. The prices usually start in 4 digits.

This issue is not a DR issue. It's a general computer repair issue. It's like going to a forum where doctors specifically discuss the causes of peripheral neuropathy, and ask why your cat is sick.

Also, Windows resets the USB interface during bootup, which makes booting Windows from a USB drive a bit difficult. It's not impossible, but it's not worth bothering with since drives are cheap, and a new drive is the right way to go.

Nice analogy lol

well thanks for the extensive explanations. also good luck with ur book.

[quote="rchadwick"]This issue is not a DR issue. It's a general computer repair issue. It's like going to a forum where doctors specifically discuss the causes of peripheral neuropathy, and ask why your cat is sick.

but every doctor whether surgeon, dermatologist, neurologist etc have the same basic education. specializing in a field doesnt make the basics irrelevant
anyway thanks

OK, but with this in mind would you allow a dermatologist to perform a heart transplant on you??

absolutely not. but if ur dermatologist is not able to diagnose a simple sinus infection/or ear infection and give u antibiotics (which he is allowed to prescribe) then u should find another doctor)
besides u knew the answer to my question because it was a general question and u are obviously competend. my orthodentist once found a tiny cavity in my tooth and he told me about it. he said that he shouldnt have to deal with it and i went to my dentist who fixed it within 7 minutes. obviously he could have but he chose not to do it. there is always a choice.