Windows 7: Recover data from hard drive (win 7) using desktop with XP?

I recently had my laptop motherboard die and need to recover data from the hard drive. The laptop hard drive had windows 7 installed on it. I would like to hook this drive up to my desktop, which has windows XP, and run the laptop drive as a slave. The laptop also has security passwords set so I will need to take control of the drive in order to access any files. Will this work?

I've done this process several times where both drives were running XP and I had no problems but I'm a little concerned it may not work since my primary drive (desktop with XP) is the older of the two operating systems.



Thanks in advance for any advice.

Hi speedracer993,
Welcome to Seven Forums.

There should be no issues in slaving the drive in an XP machine, you will then be able to access your data.
What do you mean by "The laptop also has security passwords set"??

Regards,
JDobbsy1987

Are you wanting to use the Windows 7 OS on your XP desktop. If the Windows 7 from the laptop was an OEM, then answer is no. (after a reread you just want your data I think)

If you just want to use the drive for data then I don't see a problem. I'd clean & format if it was mine after saving any old data.

I just meant that I had my laptop set up to require my password in order to log on to the computer. I wasn't sure if XP would have any issues to 'take control' of the password protected windows 7 slave drive.

This won't be a problem, when you slave the drive in XP you won't need the password but it will still be able read / access your files.

Regards,
JDobbsy1987

This may help if needed
Take Ownership Shortcut

Thank you for the quick responses. Sounds like I should have no problem recovering the data I need off the old hard drive.

Providing your hard drive is readable (not broke) you won't have an issue