Reddit reviews Sabrent USB 3.0 to SATA/IDE 2.5/3.5/5.25-INCH Hard Drive Converter with Power Supply & LED Activity Lights [4TB Support] (USB-DSC9)

There is a device you can get that converts an internal to an external via a USB cable and a powercord. I have one at home from needing to pull off old files. They are pretty cheap.

Here is one for $22.99, I've got a startech version I believe.

Highly unlikely that your internal hard drive itself was damaged.

Before giving up hope or getting rid of the laptop, take it out and connect it with a cheap SATA adapter to another computer. Try Google for more tips.

edit - here's a link to the one I have. it's rarely used, but valuable when needed. definitely money well spent:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQJME7Y

there are even cheaper ones too, I got this one because it can connect to SATA (modern connector) and also IDE (older connection type that started getting phased out around the year 2000). most people don't have a need for the IDE option

Not necessarily. Reasonably priced devices such as this make it very possible:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DQJME7Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1523222402&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=sabrent+usb+sata+ide&dpPl=1&dpID=31j2YPI9CfL&ref=plSrch

This is a ide drive, not a sata one. You need a motherboard with a ide connector(rare) or a sata to ide adapter(often has issues) or a pcie to ide card(kinda pricy and uses a slot). Or get a usb adapters

You also need a laptop ide to a desktop adapter as they were different connectors.

If you need the data best hope is a data recovery service, but there not cheap.

if you want to try on your own, this is your cheapest best option.https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-5-25-INCH-Converter-Activity-USB-DSC9/dp/B00DQJME7Y

I just picked up this thing, same as what OP posted.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQJME7Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Agree with this. Plus if you have it hooked up to another computer it will be much easier to recover data as you can just copy it to the computer you are using.

It is a big waste of time to try to repair the computer in question just so you can recover data. The link sglville provided would work but I would go with something more like this https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-USB-DSC9-SATA-Drive-Converter/dp/B00DQJME7Y/ as it's USB 3.0.

You will need an adapter to get data off the old drive.

I have a few really good adapters that can all connect an IDE drive to USB, but I think for your needs you just need a basic kit like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-5-25-INCH-Converter-Activity-USB-DSC9/dp/B00DQJME7Y

This type of kit will have all the basic tools you will need.

I know you said you didn't want to spend money, but this is probably the only way to connect the drive to your computer.

Maybe call around or ask a friend if they already have the adapter.

I hope the drive is able to be read. I use this to transfer files off my internal drives, but if you wanted just a sata to USB, they would be around $10.

Maybe try this

There are other options. Some IDE enclosures and cables cost about the same and do have Prime available

Rosewill RX35-AT-IU BLK Aluminum 3.5-Inch IDE to USB 2.0 External Enclosure (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004BU6ITW

Sabrent USB 3.0 TO SATA/IDE 2.5/3.5/5.25-INCH Hard Drive Converter With Power Supply & LED Activity Lights [4TB Support] (USB-DSC9) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DQJME7Y

I'm assuming you have two desktops here. You can connect your crashing HDD to your working desktop by opening it up and connecting it to an open SATA power port from your PSU and using a spare SATA data cable to connect it to the motherboard.

You can also use one of these to connect it to your working desktop by way of USB port to back up your data.

Then you can make boot media for Win 7 using a CD or a flash drive. Google "how to make win 7 boot media". Once you have it, put your SSD in the computer, boot and install from the media you made and transfer the data you backed up onto the SSD once it's done.

Sounds like your HDD most likely converted to a Raw formatting during the win 10 upgrades. I've experienced some of my offices PC HDD getting corrupted or converting to Raw due to the Win 10 Upgrade.

I can't say for sure if this is the case with the laptop but seems like it. If this is the case, you will need a data recovery software that can recover data. If the HDD is in Raw Format, you will need to find a recovery software that can recover from Raw HDD.

In order to check to see if the HDD is in Raw format or not, you will need a USB to SATA (or whatever type of HDD the laptop uses) adapter or similar device. Example: USB TO SATA Adapter .

You will need administrator to the following:

Once the laptop HDD is connected to another PC via Adapter/Docking Station Or I guess you can also use the Portal HDD with Windows Live to check:

1. Go to "Disk Management"
   
   
2. You will see a window pop-up and in the bottom, "Disk 0", "Disk 1", "Disk 2" etc etc depending on how many HDD's are hooked up to the PC.
   
   
3. Look for the laptop HDD, Either the Disk with No Blue bar to show that it is being used will be the laptop HDD or you can check by looking at the HDD total space to figure out which is the laptop Disk.
   
   If you see a Disk that says "Offline" underneath the Disk Label, right click the "Disk **" and then click on "Online". If you get lucky, this may fix the issue. If not, proceed with the following below.
   
   
4. Once you find the laptop HDD, right-click where it says "Disk **" and then click on "Properties"
   
   
5. A small window will pop-up
   
   
6. Click on the "Volumes tab"
   
   
7. For "Partition Style" check to see if it says MBR, GPT, or Raw.
   
   If it says Raw, it sucks and you will need to find a recovery software that works on RAW HDD's. If it says MBR or GPT, not sure, may need to do more research in that case.

I have this one, which has worked perfectly with everything I've thrown at it. Definitely worth the $23 (and it's prime eligible).

One more question, will a USB to SATA converter offer any possible change of accessing files?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQJME7Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This should work, but it's a little pricey. However, it is, to my knowledge, the only way to really do it. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DQJME7Y?fp=1&pc_redir=T1&tag=hotoge-20

I always use one of these. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DQJME7Y/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_C6I6AbYR3G822

I use this one every day.

http://smile.amazon.com/SABRENT-5-25-INCH-Converter-Activity-USB-DSC9/dp/B00DQJME7Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1427290136&sr=8-2&keywords=usb+3.0+to+sata

Yes you can get something like this USB3 to Sata, and you should b fine.

I have an old laptop that won't boot cause It fell down,it's pretty old like 6 years so I'm not bothering to get it fixed,was wondering if I could buy this to recover files from my HDD

you could try, but if the old drive ran on a different computer(different components), you could have driver compatibility issues.
Options：
1）connect the old HD as a second HD to the computer; you can start the pc normally and see the old HD as a separate drive. You can then just explore.
2) Use an external adapter/dock(Hard drive enclosure). Connect old HD via USB.
like this one on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-USB-DSC9-SATA-Drive-Converter/dp/B00DQJME7Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1481345505&sr=8-3&keywords=hd+3.5+enclosure
or this：http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hard-Drive-Docking-Station-USB-3-0-to-SATA-DS-UBLK-Sabrent-/161954677792?hash=item25b5404420:g:HhsAAOSwUV9WmvSX


Depending on how old your HD is, this may vary though.

I mean, you could, with something like this

My mistake, you're right. When I was quickly googling I didn't pay attention to the bit/byte difference.

Quickly googling I found https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-5-25-INCH-Converter-Activity-USB-DSC9/dp/B00DQJME7Y, so perhaps it is useful

something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005JFUI6M/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_O.LBwb1SKNNQE

or this

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DQJME7Y/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_agMBwb0ZZYXV2

What you want to do is called cloning, an exact copy of the drive copied to a different drive. That includes the OS and all programs, settings, documents, etc. This only works if you're installing the new drive back into the same laptop. Instructions for that are below.

If you want to be able reinstall Vista on a different machine that may not be possible. If the copy is an OEM, came installed on the laptop when it was new, then it's tied to that machine and can't be activated on another machine.

If it's a boxed retail copy then you can reinstall it but you'll need an install disk and your product key. I expect you have OEM but if not let me know and I'll see if I can find a legit place to download an installable copy.

Here is how to clone the existing drive to a new drive:

First, stop using the old drive. The more you use it the more likely it is to fail completely so can't access anything on it.

If you have a desktop available take the old drive out of the laptop and connect it to a sata port on the desktop. Alternatively you can use a USB adapter that lets you connect it using a USB cable.

Download Clonezilla, burn it to a CD or copy to a USB so you can boot the desktop from it.

Follow the instructions on Clonezilla's site to clone the disk.

<Be very sure you've properly identified the disks, you don't want to accidentally wipe out the desktop drive >

If you don't have a desktop available then get the USB adapter and connect the new drive to the laptop, then boot the laptop using Clonezilla.

For an desktop hard drive (3.5") you need a powered version of that cable like this: https://smile.amazon.com/Sabrent-5-25-INCH-Converter-Activity-USB-DSC9/dp/B00DQJME7Y

Otherwise the hard drive won't have enough power to spin up. The cable you bought is for laptop hard drives (2.5")

I had this issue - this is what I purchased and did it myself (the first one, not really knowing how to do myself before hand), (you'll need a new computer to transfer the data and a place to transfer the data to). If I new you I would loan you mine. There are different versions of these devices:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQJME7Y/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

or

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00APP6694/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2EF8L5POAS8HF&coliid=IC1C39PQCSDMQ

http://www.amazon.com/SABRENT-5-25-INCH-Converter-Activity-USB-DSC9/dp/B00DQJME7Y

I'm looking to buy this:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DQJME7Y/?tag=hotoge-20
http://www.howtogeek.com/182452/how-to-get-data-off-an-old-hard-drive-without-putting-it-in-a-pc/

I'm pretty sure that should do the trick, right?

Here's a data migration adapter, but I don't guarantee that that's the only way to do it. I'd submit another post asking about it before going with a SATA to USB 3.0 adapter.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DQJME7Y/?tag=hotoge-20

I have taken the drive out of the plastic enclosure and tried using this connector. But has not solved the problem.
Now, the drive starts (as in, I can feel the vibrations of the drive spin), but stops after making weird noise within a minute.