Dad's computer, desperately want to save :(

[Dom]

Okay, about the external drive enclosures, I am confused about the sizes. There are 2.5" enclosures and 3.5" enclosures. My dads HD is 2.5" one way, and 3.5" the other. I really should know this

 

[alphanumeric]

It's width not length. A 3.5 inch wide drive is normally what you find in a desktop PC. It has the 40 pin IDE connector and the 4 pin power connector. 2.5 inch wide IDE laptop drives only have the connector for the ribbon cable. Power comes in on that connector along with data. I don't remember how many pins are on that cable. From the sounds of it you have the smaller 2.5 inch drive. It came out of a laptop so it should be the smaller type drive.

EDIT: if it's a SATA laptop drive it will have two connecotrs, a SATA data connector and a SATA power connector. Just Google the part or model number on the sticker on the drive and you should be able to find all the info you need to nail it down.

 

[Dom]

It's width not length. A 3.5 inch wide drive is normally what you find in a desktop PC. It has the 80 pin IDE connector and the 4 pin power connector. 2.5 inch wide IDE laptop drives only have the connector for the ribbon cable. Power comes in on that connector along with data. I don't remember how many pins are on that cable. From the sounds of it you have the smaller 2.5 inch drive. It came out of a laptop so it should be the smaller type drive.

EDIT: if it's a SATA laptop drive it will have two connecotrs, a SATA data connector and a SATA power connector. Just Google the part or model number on the sticker on the drive and you should be able to find all the info you need to nail it down.

Thanks for this It is a 2.5" IDE drive... about 40-45 pins.

 

[alphanumeric]

I made a typo in my other post. It should have been "40" pin IDE connector, not 80. The cable has 80 wires but the connector only has 40 pins.

 

[strollin]

It's width not length. ...

Technically speaking, it's neither length nor width. It refers to the diameter of the platter inside the drive.

 

[karlsnooks]

As BarMan and others have suggested:

Save the date, first and foremost. Concentrate on solving this problem.

Forget trying to fix the boat anchor. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. You do not want to destroy your own laptop also-don't switch components, adapters, batteries between the two.

 

[kodi]

StarTech.com 2.5in Silver USB 2.0 to IDE External Hard Drive Enclosure Storage enclosure- IDE

Startech will get it done

This is what you need to get the data off quickly and safetly.
If you use another brand it must have/be three things
1. 2.5in
2. Ide and NOT Sata
3. USB 2.0 NOT Usb 1.0 (too slow)

 

[Dom]

Thanks everyone

Karl, don't worry I haven't fried my working laptop All I have done with the old dead laptop, is take out all the components, take out the motherboard then rest it on my desk, and then put all the components back, with no original case. It looks pretty neat to me :huh:
Hopefully my dad will buy that Startech drive enclosure sometime this week, he's willing to do anything to get back precious photos of me as a baby and some important work files

 

[LiquidSnak]

That Startech enclosure will treat you right.

I use all Startech screws in my builds. Sorry to hear that the laptop is a doorstop now, but it's a good learning tool. (somewhat expensive though it may be)

 

[Dom]

That Startech enclosure will treat you right.

I use all Startech screws in my builds. Sorry to hear that the laptop is a doorstop now, but it's a good learning tool. (somewhat expensive though it may be)

Hell yeah I've learnt alot
Although, I could order these parts for more learning :devil: :-

Hynix 512MB DDR 333MHz PC2700S HYMD564M646A6 LaptopRAM - eBay (item 300486706959 end time Nov-27-10 11:29:08 PST)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ACER-ASPIRE-136...opAccess_RL&hash=item35aaae1056#ht_1283wt_907

ACER ASPIRE 1360 1362LC 15" SCREEN CABLE 50.49I02.011 - eBay (item 140331033523 end time Nov-25-10 07:39:47 PST)

Toshiba IDE ATA MK2023GAS 2.5" 20GB Laptop Hard Drive on eBay (end time 01-Nov-10 17:06:33 GMT)

And maybe a new processor to spice things up a bit :devil2:

NEW AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.2GHZ Socket 754 ADA3200AIO4BX on eBay (end time 10-Nov-10 16:39:50 GMT)

 

[LiquidSnak]

Rebuild it!

Though I would buy that processor with some dubiousness. It might not work in your laptop, even though it is the same socket.

 

[Dom]

Rebuild it!

Though I would buy that processor with some dubiousness. It might not work in your laptop, even though it is the same socket.

Yeah, processor is optional.... But an upgrade from 192 mb of RAM and 1.6 GHz 2 core processor would be nice!

 

[TVeblen]

You seem to be discounting the most probably damaged part: the motherboard.

But if it's just a science project, then knock yourself out!

 

[Dom]

You seem to be discounting the most probably damaged part: the motherboard.

But if it's just a science project, then knock yourself out!

Well, either way, if I don't buy a new motherboard yet, I'll definitely know if the old one still works or not. My dad plans to buy each piece of hardware one at a time to conserve some money. But if I am gonna do that, I want to know if adding working parts to a dead motherboard will harm the new hardware in any way?

 

[alphanumeric]

You do know that you will have to replace that laptop motherboard with an exact replacement don't you? It's not like swapping motherboards in a desktop PC. I would be very surprised if you didn't damage some parts on the existing motherboard when you shorted out the USB port with the spoon. If you blew some voltage regulation circuits and your voltages are high, you could damage any new components you try in the damaged motherboard. It's not a road that I would take. Finding an exact replacement motherboard for that make and model laptop could be a tricky adventure and end in frustration.

 

[Dom]

You do know that you will have to replace that laptop motherboard with an exact replacement don't you? It's not like swapping motherboards in a desktop PC. I would be very surprised if you didn't damage some parts on the existing motherboard when you shorted out the USB port with the spoon. If you blew some voltage regulation circuits and your voltages are high, you could damage any new components you try in the damaged motherboard. It's not a road that I would take. Finding an exact replacement motherboard for that make and model laptop could be a tricky adventure and end in frustration.

Acer Aspire1360 - Motherboard on eBay (end time 12-Nov-10 12:40:00 GMT)

This looks exactly like the motherboard I'm holding in my hands
All the orange squares/dots/holes are in exactly the same place in the picture in real life.
And the "Aspire 1360" is the make/model of the dead laptop.

 

[TVeblen]

"Not Working"
(About half way down)

You could list yours at 11 p!

But you are on the right track. See if you can find a working one.

or, how about this: ACER ASPIRE 1360 LAPTOP & EXTERNAL DISC DRIVE SEE BELOW - eBay (item 380283628122 end time Nov-07-10 23:05:50 PST)

 

[Dom]

Found this one I expect is working.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ACER-ASPIRE-1...ds_CPUs_CA&hash=item5881f9e8c0#ht_3197wt_1141

 

[Barman58]

Dom You have to scroll to the bottom of the page

MOTHERBOARD TESTED AND AND SHOWED NO SIGNS OF LIFE, SOLD AS FAULTY, NO RETURNS, NO REFUNDS.





PLEASE ONLY BUY THIS BOARD IF YOU ARE A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN OR

HAVING A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN FIT IT FOR YOU!

 

[Dom]

Dom You have to scroll to the bottom of the page

MOTHERBOARD TESTED AND AND SHOWED NO SIGNS OF LIFE, SOLD AS FAULTY, NO RETURNS, NO REFUNDS.





PLEASE ONLY BUY THIS BOARD IF YOU ARE A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN OR

HAVING A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN FIT IT FOR YOU!

Yeah, as it was a faulty board, I won't buy it :devil: