Get Files Off Old Laptop

[dw85745]

I need to get some files off an old laptop.

>>> Old Computer <<<<
I've got an old Dell "Latitude CP" laptop that has Windows 98SE on it.
Haven't used in years.
It has a serial port, USB port (assume 1.0), CD-ROM (Read Only), Floppy Disk, and a place for an old modem card
I believe I still have the old plug-in modem.

>>> New Computer <<<
Running Windows 7 (32 bit).
Has USB 2.0, 3.0, a serial port card, and router connection to NET.

=======================
Had thought about using a null modem cable but not sure what software would work on both machines.
=======================

QUESTION:
With the above configurations, what is the best way to get data from the old to new computer?

 

[Ranger4]

What sort of files are you hoping to retrieve?.

 

[dw85745]

Various types:
Couple old *.mdb, some VB6 source code, and an exe (not mine). I can zip them on the old system if needed.
IMHO question confusing as don't understand what file type has to do with anything as every file just series of bytes.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Various types:
~~~
IMHO question confusing as don't understand what file type has to do with anything as every file just series of bytes.

Perhaps the relevance of the question would have been clearer to you if the word "sort" had been replaced with "size and quantity". If you had a ton of videos and photos, then it might take you a long time to use a USB flash drive (memory stick) to transfer the files. As it is, you could probably use a USB flash drive without too much trouble. I seem to recall needing to install drivers to make use of a USB flash drive on W98 [or maybe that was on W95].

Personally, I would pull the hard drive... because I already own a USB to hard drive adapter.

 

[dw85745]

a.k.a. UNI:

Thanks for responding.

Had considered pulling the hard drive as have a 2.5/3.5 to SATA adapter.
However when I looked at an old uninstalled HD for this laptop, saw it had what looked like a mini-parallel connector on end of HD instead of IDE. Didn't recall that type connector being used with laptop HDs. Plan to pull one installed in old laptop today to confirm. If so, my guess is USB to HD adapter would NOT work either because of HD interface.
So will pursue thumb drive idea for now. Not sure if Win98 had a size limit for thumb drives.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Dell often uses an adapter on those laptop hard drives. It should pull right off.

 

[dw85745]

Thanks for your effort on my behalf.
Found that out after pulling HD from Dell's tray.
Guess getting old and memory not as good.
Appreciate the Refresh.

 

[UsernameIssues]

You are welcome.

That info will hopefully fade from my memory too...
...if I ever get rid of the stack of Dell laptop drives sitting on my desk

 

[TechnoMage2016]

Just sayin'.......
If that old hard drive is still running you're way ahead of the game.
In so many cases the motherboard won't even boot up and so the drive is not accessible via normal means.

Speaking as a PC tech, I'd just remove the old HD and connect it as a slave to my desktop PC, and access the files, copy them to a new folder in my PC and then burn them to a CD or DVD for permanent storage.

I've had to do that many times for a friend/customer who had a PC blow up on them. They were willing to just throw away the PC, but wanted to preserve the data on the HD.

Good luck to you,
TechnoMage