Well, my dad has just ordered that Startech drive enclosure, so when he has his business computer he can view his files

And since its coming up to Christmas, he'll want a new computer anyway, so no point buying an old laptop all over again. I might as well buy parts off Ebay and build him a new computer (I've always wanted to build computers).
Funnily enough, that dead laptop cost him £1200 when he bought it... amazing how prices change over the years.