Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Alyallen]

Hi,

My computer's motherboard died a month or so again. I was thinking of recycling the computer but my harddrive is still full of my information and such. Is there a way to gain access to my information without lots of $$$? If not, how safe would it be to recycle the computer with the information still on the harddrive?

I had this computer for 5 years and it had lots of pictures and personal stuff on it, so the best scenario for me would be to get all this information back and recycle the computer.

Thanks,
AlyAllen

[peppermint]

Considering that you're talking about buying a new laptop anyway. One option would be to take the hard drive, buy a case for it (should be under $100.00) and keep it as an external hard drive. That's what I was considering doing with my old one.

[Demophobe]

If I understamd correctly, this is a desktop computer? If so (even if it's a laptop) just remove the drive and hook it up to your new system....or any system, and transfer the files on it to the new hard drive.

As peppermint said, you could buy a 3.5" USB drive bay and keep it as an external.

[Bulsajo]

Ditto on the above 2 posts, it was discussed in slightly more depth this thread:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=23346

[The Lemon]

Are you absolutely sure that the mainboard croaked? Even if it was, if you're in Seoul you might consider visiting Yongsan and checking out their used mainboards. You can get a decent mainboard+CPU combo (decent=something over 800mhz) for $50 or thereabouts. That $50 will give you a working machine again, resurrecting your old files.

If it was me, I'd probably do that.

[SuperHero]

I got an external harddrive case usb 2.0 at yongsan on Saturday for 40,000 won, that should do the trick.

[Falstaff]

I've had this happen to me a few times. It's no big deal. Plug the old hard drive into a new system. Last time it happened I set my old HD as a slave, copied the files I needed/wanted to the new hard drive. I then formatted the old HD and now it's my music library.

[mindmetoo]

A bit of googling will show you what to do, with pictures, to set up your old HD as a slave. I did it once and I'm the least dextrous person on the planet for things like that. I can barely seat a video card into my motherboard without wrecking/snapping things.

It's good to know, however, you can take an old HD and set it up as an external drive. Might need to do that if I have to replace my laptop again.

[Alyallen]

ok, so it is Alyallen with more questions to ask.

I'm thinking of buying a hard drive case/bay/enclosure (whatever it's called) and I'm confused about the different sizes. How do I know what size to get....a 2.5" vs. a 5. 25" and all that.

Also, I don't have a new system to put the hard drive into, so I was thinking of bringing it with me to Korea. So my next questions are that if I do bring it with me, can it go through an x-ray machine and should I make sure to include it in my carry-on luggage to avoid it being damaged?

Sorry if my questions seem sort of stupid but technology is not my strong suit.

Thanks in advance,
AlyAllen

[Bulsajo]

2.5" = size for laptop internal HD
3.5" = size for desktop internal HD (you probably want this one)
5.25" = size for CD/DVD drive

Get one USB 2.0 compatible and with a built-in cooling fan; I bought an aluminum 3.5" without a fan (models with fans were sold out and I now know why) and it can get pretty hot after being on for a few hours (hot enough to overheat).

I don't know about Xrays and hard drives, but the safest place would be wrapped in a towel or some clothes stuck in the middle of your checked baggage. I really don't see carry on being any safer than that.

[Demophobe]

X-rays are no problem for hard drives.

Airport security is another matter. The bag will probably be at least searched...if it is in your carry-on, which mine was (post-911), then they may even ask you to power it up.

No big deal. 3 x-ray later, the drive is fine today.