How to view files on a hard drive with a bootable OS?

[keano0166]

Hi

I had a laptop that died. I would like to access those files and copy them to my desktop. I boght an external housing for the hard drive and  hooked it up through the usb on my desktop but my desktop did not recognize the hard drive.

How can I view those files on my desktop?

The desktop is xinwos xp sp3, the hard drive was vista. Not sure if the hard drive was fat 32 or ntsf. The laptop hard drive had two partitions, C with its OS, and D was a recovery partition.

Thanks,

[patio]

Does the drive show up in Disk Management ? ?
Right Clik My Computer...select Manage ...then Disk Management.
Right clik the drive ...select Properties and report back...


You may have to try This as well...

[keano0166]

No, it does not show up. I am wondering if having the windows OS on it is confusing the XP machine?

[Allan]

No. The drive would still show up as would its contents. Are you certain it was the laptop that "died" and not the hd?

[Salmon Trout]

No, it does not show up. I am wondering if having the windows OS on it is confusing the XP machine?

It would not. This suggests that the drive may be dead.

[Allan]

You're a little slow this morning Mr. Trout 

[Salmon Trout]

You're a little slow this morning Mr. Trout 

It's 3:25 in the afternoon...

[Allan]

Not here

[keano0166]

No. The drive would still show up as would its contents. Are you certain it was the laptop that "died" and not the hd?

Would the OS file system (fat 32 vs ntsf) impede on the files and drive being visible?

No, the drive is 100% working. The hdd that I am trying to view is actually the original hdd to the laptop that I imaged back to a new hdd about a month ago. So that drive was working and has been sitting in one spot since then. I could pop out the new hdd that is in the laptop, but I pretty sure the hdd is working.

Would some acronis tool help with the viewing of files? Should the laptop hdd be conected prior to the os booting? Should I try to maybe  play with the pins and make him a slave?

[Salmon Trout]

Would the OS file system (fat 32 vs ntsf) impede on the files and drive being visible?

No.

So that drive was working and has been sitting in one spot since then.

Does not mean it has not failed. Also external enclosure could be faulty.

[keano0166]

ok, so I will pop out the other hdd and see if I can see that one.

Thanks,

[Allan]

Would some acronis tool help with the viewing of files?

No

Should the laptop hdd be conected prior to the os booting?

Shouldn't matter if it's USB but no harm in trying both ways

[Salmon Trout]

God, you're quick, Allan!

[Allan]

Stop talking to my wife!