OT: Old Hard Drives

DGates wrote on 12/23/2009, 2:44 AM

I know this forum has plenty of tech-heads, so I'll ask this question. I have old drives that were the main drives in old computers, and I simply want to access the contents via something like a Thermaltake docking unit connected to my new computer.

Now here's the dumb question. Will the OS on the old drives affect anything at all? Will it try and boot up from that drive? I simply don't know, so I thought I'd ask first.

Thanks!

Comments

PeterWright wrote on 12/23/2009, 3:37 AM

Assuming it's the usable data files you're after, I'd just connect them and copy across the files you want.

If they're not designated in your BIOS as the boot drive, they should just be recognised as "normal" additional disk drives.

edit: Warning - I'm not a tech-head.

srode wrote on 12/23/2009, 4:14 AM

Sometimes adding a new drive will change the boot drive sequence in your Bios automatically - you should go to the Bios after plugging the drive in and set the boot order to the one you want to boot first. The OS on the old drive won't cause any problems once you are sure the drive you want to boot is set to boot prior to the drive you are copying from. I would suggest getting into the bios first to make sure you know which drive (if you have multiple ones now) is the boot drive so you can set it up quickly after plugging in the new drive.

Chienworks wrote on 12/23/2009, 4:41 AM

While Steve is quite correct, i'll add that from a practical stand point, i've never ended up having the boot drive change in the hundreds of times i've connected additional drives. It can happen, but it seems the chances are extremely remote.

craftech wrote on 12/23/2009, 5:02 AM

Don't forget the interface. The old drives are surely ATA, and your Thermaltake docking station is probably SATA so the old drive won't work in it. You can use an adapter like this one if you have it, except I don't think you can make it fit into the Thermaltake docking unit so you may have to open the computer and rig up a dongle to transfer it.

John

DGates wrote on 12/23/2009, 6:37 AM

Thanks folks!

amendegw wrote on 12/23/2009, 7:39 AM

One of the handiest pieces of hardware I own is a SATA/IDE to USB adapter. See: http://www.vantecusa.com/front/product/view_detail/266

You can connect all manner of 3.5" 2.5" SATA, IDE drives via your USB port. Takes seconds to connect and comes with its own power supply.

Good Luck!
...Jerry

Chienworks wrote on 12/23/2009, 8:28 AM

The other advantage besides ease of the USB solution is that since it doesn't involve rebooting, there's no chance for any of the drives to become the boot drive. Also, you won't ever have Windows suddenly saying "your hardware has changed so you need to reactivate your copy of Windows".

The downside is that if you have a LOT of data to transfer then USB is substantially slower than a direct IDE or SATA connection.

LReavis wrote on 12/23/2009, 10:51 AM

I've purchased several similar to these - less than $7 U.S., incl. shipping:

http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-TO-IDE-SATA-S-SATA-Converter-CABLE-Adaptor-w-POWER_W0QQitemZ180402670408QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2a00d64b48

I always check the voltage of the power brick to be sure it's no more than 5% too high, but I haven't found a problem yet (I check because years ago I bought a USB hard drive box that burned out a couple of drives before I knew the voltage was too high).

I did get one with a bad 120vac power cord, but I have a box full of those. It also work flawlessly once I plugged in a new cord.

Steve Mann wrote on 12/23/2009, 8:42 PM

odds are that the OP has not modified the default boot order in the BIOS - if he knew how he would not likely be asking the original question. So, you have a 99.999% chance of success.

Soniclight wrote on 12/25/2009, 4:50 AM

On old drives: My question is why keep old OS's taking up space on drives that are now essentially storage bins? :)

When I use old drives, I usually reformat and re-organize. In general use terms, I keep system backups on drives separate from media files drives, i.e. my media files for Vegas, Cubase, etc. are on my D:/ and E:/ -- and True Image system backups are on others, such as V:/ and W:/ (alternated so I always have the last and the second-to-last full system backups available). This last double-up may be overkill, never have needed it but I'm a bit of a backup-aholic.

I also have an if-all-else-fails, more or less virgin emergency OS on an old drive handy too.