Computer Hope

Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: denisaf on April 10, 2013, 07:36:11 PM

Title: Hard drive backup to external USB hard drive enclosure
Post by: denisaf on April 10, 2013, 07:36:11 PM
Windows 7 desk top computer stopped during use. It would not restart when button pressed. External power supply ok. Possible internal Power Supply Unit failure. Can the pc hard drive data be backed up to an external USB hard drive enclosure before testing to find the fault in these circumstances?
Title: Re: Hard drive backup to external USB hard drive enclosure
Post by: Geek-9pm on April 10, 2013, 08:02:22 PM
Yes, most HDD is use on laptop and desktops units are pretty standard. The desktops use 3.5 inch internal drives and the laptops are mostlt 2.5 inch. The Sata interface is almost universal. Suitable enclosures are sold by major vendors. Be aware that the very lost cost kits are not real enclosure, just the power and interface components. Not recommended. To easy make a mistake.

You will need a working PC or laptop to read the data. And enough free drive space to store your data files. Recovering program files is not piratical, unless the programs were  portable programs. Which is not likely.
This video is basic and helpful. (Ignore the lead in advertisement.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLLQusrmzvI

As you will see in then video, you can buy an enclosure for  any starred hard drive. So just pick out a good enclosure and you can get you data back!

EDIT: On of the best tutorials I have seen lately.  He makes it plain and simple and very useful information.  Geek-9pm recommends you watch. That guy is even better that me.
Title: Re: Hard drive backup to external USB hard drive enclosure
Post by: denisaf on April 23, 2013, 06:16:26 PM
I was not aware when I made the original post that the Windows 7 PC was still under warranty. It is now with repairers and they will back up the data to an external hard drive before commencing the repair. I have a Windows 98se PC that I tried to back up using a USB flash drive but could not find one that would work with 98SE. Can I use my WD external hard drive to do that back up? Thank you, Greek-9pm for your advice.