Installing IDE HD to new desktop PC to transfer files

My new Dell E520 system is on its way so I can replace my aging dinosaur.
It's had its problems recently, and when I tried to upgrade from Windows 98
to XP it really messed things up and I had to back out of the whole
thing...2 solid days lost fixing that one (it should have upgraded without
too much problem).

At any rate, I have 2 IDE hard disks on my PC with a mountain of data (pics,
video, music, Office files, etc) that I want to transfer. Both optical
drives are now non-functional although I do have a 1 GB flash drive.
However, I woule REALLY like to be able to rip the HD drive out and install
it on the new PC as a slave drive and then copy everything over. However,
the new PC is SATA and the old drives are IDE.

How best/easiest/cheapest can I transfer everything over? Is there an IDE
controller on my new PC and if so how can I access it? Does the DVD burner
run off an IDE controller and if so, can I just disconnect the cable and the
power and connect it to the HD and then reboot and transfer...then shut down
and re-connect the DVD burner?

Thanks for any and all advice.

Best way to do this is with this device:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=150129128516

[If this is sold, do a search for "USB IDE SATA TRI" ... they are
offered continuously. $6.99 plus $8.99 Internaltional shipping (from
Hong Kong)]

Good news: The device and the seller are both great. And it's dirt cheap.

Bad news: Delivery takes 3 weeks. You can find similar device
domestically but they will cost 2x to 3x as much (PLUS shipping).

You can get little boards that mount on the back of the IDE drives and
convert them to SATA .... about $10-$12.

But, whatever, order one of those devices from Hong Kong. You will want
it someday when you don't have 3 weeks to spare, and it's not going to
exactly break the piggy bank.


Bob Hayden wrote:
> My new Dell E520 system is on its way so I can replace my aging dinosaur.
> It's had its problems recently, and when I tried to upgrade from Windows 98
> to XP it really messed things up and I had to back out of the whole
> thing...2 solid days lost fixing that one (it should have upgraded without
> too much problem).
>
> At any rate, I have 2 IDE hard disks on my PC with a mountain of data (pics,
> video, music, Office files, etc) that I want to transfer. Both optical
> drives are now non-functional although I do have a 1 GB flash drive.
> However, I woule REALLY like to be able to rip the HD drive out and install
> it on the new PC as a slave drive and then copy everything over. However,
> the new PC is SATA and the old drives are IDE.
>
> How best/easiest/cheapest can I transfer everything over? Is there an IDE
> controller on my new PC and if so how can I access it? Does the DVD burner
> run off an IDE controller and if so, can I just disconnect the cable and the
> power and connect it to the HD and then reboot and transfer...then shut down
> and re-connect the DVD burner?
>
> Thanks for any and all advice.
>
>

Barry's suggestion is a good one for an occasional use, but if you want
to use it long-term, get an external USB2 case, with fan, in which to
mount the drive.

No support for IDE in the 520 otherwise.

Tom

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Hayden [private.php?do=newpm&u=]
> Posted At: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 9:59 PM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: Installing IDE HD to new desktop PC to transfer files
> Subject: Installing IDE HD to new desktop PC to transfer files
>
> My new Dell E520 system is on its way so I can replace my aging
> dinosaur.
> It's had its problems recently, and when I tried to upgrade from
> Windows 98
> to XP it really messed things up and I had to back out of the whole
> thing...2 solid days lost fixing that one (it should have upgraded
> without
> too much problem).
>
> At any rate, I have 2 IDE hard disks on my PC with a mountain of data
> (pics,
> video, music, Office files, etc) that I want to transfer. Both optical
> drives are now non-functional although I do have a 1 GB flash drive.
> However, I woule REALLY like to be able to rip the HD drive out and
> install
> it on the new PC as a slave drive and then copy everything over.
> However,
> the new PC is SATA and the old drives are IDE.
>
> How best/easiest/cheapest can I transfer everything over? Is there an
> IDE
> controller on my new PC and if so how can I access it? Does the DVD
> burner
> run off an IDE controller and if so, can I just disconnect the cable
> and the
> power and connect it to the HD and then reboot and transfer...then
shut
> down
> and re-connect the DVD burner?
>
> Thanks for any and all advice.

Tom and Barry,

Thanks for the input. It will be used just temporarily to transfer the data,
then put back in the old PC, wiped clean and re-formatted, and hopefully it
will become my son's PC to use next fall for school. I figure after doing a
re-format and re-installing things (hmm, first I better fix the optical
drives or buy a new one) that I can install my XP Home upgrade as well.

Bob

"Tom Scales" <> wrote in message
news:000001c7a7ec$e32917b0$de01a8c0@t9200...
> Barry's suggestion is a good one for an occasional use, but if you want
> to use it long-term, get an external USB2 case, with fan, in which to
> mount the drive.
>
> No support for IDE in the 520 otherwise.
>
> Tom
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Bob Hayden [private.php?do=newpm&u=]
> > Posted At: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 9:59 PM
> > Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> > Conversation: Installing IDE HD to new desktop PC to transfer files
> > Subject: Installing IDE HD to new desktop PC to transfer files
> >
> > My new Dell E520 system is on its way so I can replace my aging
> > dinosaur.
> > It's had its problems recently, and when I tried to upgrade from
> > Windows 98
> > to XP it really messed things up and I had to back out of the whole
> > thing...2 solid days lost fixing that one (it should have upgraded
> > without
> > too much problem).
> >
> > At any rate, I have 2 IDE hard disks on my PC with a mountain of data
> > (pics,
> > video, music, Office files, etc) that I want to transfer. Both optical
> > drives are now non-functional although I do have a 1 GB flash drive.
> > However, I woule REALLY like to be able to rip the HD drive out and
> > install
> > it on the new PC as a slave drive and then copy everything over.
> > However,
> > the new PC is SATA and the old drives are IDE.
> >
> > How best/easiest/cheapest can I transfer everything over? Is there an
> > IDE
> > controller on my new PC and if so how can I access it? Does the DVD
> > burner
> > run off an IDE controller and if so, can I just disconnect the cable
> > and the
> > power and connect it to the HD and then reboot and transfer...then
> shut
> > down
> > and re-connect the DVD burner?
> >
> > Thanks for any and all advice.
>
>

Barry, thanks for the positive advice.

Question for you...I'm trying to figure out if this is something I take the
old HD out of my old PC and then string it up in the new one with this
adapter, or if it's something I leave in the old PC to do it. The reason I
am concerned is that the old PC's CD-ROM drive doesn't work so I can't
install the drivers.

"Barry Watzman" <> wrote in message
news:46661ac3$0$9904$...
> Best way to do this is with this device:
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=150129128516
>
> [If this is sold, do a search for "USB IDE SATA TRI" ... they are
> offered continuously. $6.99 plus $8.99 Internaltional shipping (from
> Hong Kong)]
>
> Good news: The device and the seller are both great. And it's dirt
cheap.
>
> Bad news: Delivery takes 3 weeks. You can find similar device
> domestically but they will cost 2x to 3x as much (PLUS shipping).
>
> You can get little boards that mount on the back of the IDE drives and
> convert them to SATA .... about $10-$12.
>
> But, whatever, order one of those devices from Hong Kong. You will want
> it someday when you don't have 3 weeks to spare, and it's not going to
> exactly break the piggy bank.
>
>
> Bob Hayden wrote:
> > My new Dell E520 system is on its way so I can replace my aging
dinosaur.
> > It's had its problems recently, and when I tried to upgrade from Windows
98
> > to XP it really messed things up and I had to back out of the whole
> > thing...2 solid days lost fixing that one (it should have upgraded
without
> > too much problem).
> >
> > At any rate, I have 2 IDE hard disks on my PC with a mountain of data
(pics,
> > video, music, Office files, etc) that I want to transfer. Both optical
> > drives are now non-functional although I do have a 1 GB flash drive.
> > However, I woule REALLY like to be able to rip the HD drive out and
install
> > it on the new PC as a slave drive and then copy everything over.
However,
> > the new PC is SATA and the old drives are IDE.
> >
> > How best/easiest/cheapest can I transfer everything over? Is there an
IDE
> > controller on my new PC and if so how can I access it? Does the DVD
burner
> > run off an IDE controller and if so, can I just disconnect the cable and
the
> > power and connect it to the HD and then reboot and transfer...then shut
down
> > and re-connect the DVD burner?
> >
> > Thanks for any and all advice.
> >
> >

The simplest approach is to just network the computers. Then you can
copy them across. That's how I setup a new machine (usually).

You might want to fix the CD-ROM too. You can replace it with a DVD
burner for $35.

Tom

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Hayden [private.php?do=newpm&u=]
> Posted At: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 1:07 AM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: Installing IDE HD to new desktop PC to transfer files
> Subject: Re: Installing IDE HD to new desktop PC to transfer files
>
> Barry, thanks for the positive advice.
>
> Question for you...I'm trying to figure out if this is something I
take
> the
> old HD out of my old PC and then string it up in the new one with this
> adapter, or if it's something I leave in the old PC to do it. The
> reason I
> am concerned is that the old PC's CD-ROM drive doesn't work so I can't
> install the drivers.
>
> "Barry Watzman" <> wrote in message
> news:46661ac3$0$9904$...
> > Best way to do this is with this device:
> >
> > http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=150129128516
> >
> > [If this is sold, do a search for "USB IDE SATA TRI" ... they are
> > offered continuously. $6.99 plus $8.99 Internaltional shipping
(from
> > Hong Kong)]
> >
> > Good news: The device and the seller are both great. And it's dirt
> cheap.
> >
> > Bad news: Delivery takes 3 weeks. You can find similar device
> > domestically but they will cost 2x to 3x as much (PLUS shipping).
> >
> > You can get little boards that mount on the back of the IDE drives
> and
> > convert them to SATA .... about $10-$12.
> >
> > But, whatever, order one of those devices from Hong Kong. You will
> want
> > it someday when you don't have 3 weeks to spare, and it's not going
> to
> > exactly break the piggy bank.
> >
> >
> > Bob Hayden wrote:
> > > My new Dell E520 system is on its way so I can replace my aging
> dinosaur.
> > > It's had its problems recently, and when I tried to upgrade from
> Windows
> 98
> > > to XP it really messed things up and I had to back out of the
whole
> > > thing...2 solid days lost fixing that one (it should have upgraded
> without
> > > too much problem).
> > >
> > > At any rate, I have 2 IDE hard disks on my PC with a mountain of
> data
> (pics,
> > > video, music, Office files, etc) that I want to transfer. Both
> optical
> > > drives are now non-functional although I do have a 1 GB flash
> drive.
> > > However, I woule REALLY like to be able to rip the HD drive out
and
> install
> > > it on the new PC as a slave drive and then copy everything over.
> However,
> > > the new PC is SATA and the old drives are IDE.
> > >
> > > How best/easiest/cheapest can I transfer everything over? Is there
> an
> IDE
> > > controller on my new PC and if so how can I access it? Does the
DVD
> burner
> > > run off an IDE controller and if so, can I just disconnect the
> cable and
> the
> > > power and connect it to the HD and then reboot and transfer...then
> shut
> down
> > > and re-connect the DVD burner?
> > >
> > > Thanks for any and all advice.
> > >
> > >

"Tom Scales" wrote:
> The simplest approach is to just network the computers. Then you can
> copy them across. That's how I setup a new machine (usually).

Don't forget to use a cross-over Ethernet cable to connect
the two PCs' Ethernet cards.

*TimDaniels*

> Best way to do this is with this device:
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=150129128516

Not a critique on the seller (mine wasn't from him), but I have a
similar adaptor - the PSUs they ship with are abysmal - mine lasted
less than a month.

A quick hack about with an old ATX PSU soon resolved that little
problem though :-p

If one of the computers is an XPS410/Dimension 9200 or other computer
with integrated gigabit, a crossover cable is not necessary. It will
autodetect.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Timothy Daniels [private.php?do=newpm&u=]
> Posted At: Wednesday, June 06, 2007 2:53 AM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: Installing IDE HD to new desktop PC to transfer files
> Subject: Re: Installing IDE HD to new desktop PC to transfer files
>
> "Tom Scales" wrote:
> > The simplest approach is to just network the computers. Then you
can
> > copy them across. That's how I setup a new machine (usually).
>
> Don't forget to use a cross-over Ethernet cable to connect
> the two PCs' Ethernet cards.
>
> *TimDaniels*

This device will let you connect the drive to any computer with a USB
port ... my presumption was the new PC. The drive can physically be
anywhere as long as you can connect to the power and IDE connections
(issues of accessibility and cable length).

Don't replace the old computer's CD-ROM drive with a CD-ROM, replace it
with a DVD burner. Very good DVD burners that will both read and burn
all flavors of both CD & DVD are now under $40. My preference is
Pioneer unless you need "lightscribe", in which case (since Pioneer
doesn't currently support "lightscribe") I'd go with TSST (Toshiba/Samsung).

[Lightscribe is a technique for using the laser of the burner to create
a LABEL on the non-data side of the media. It requires very special
(and somewhat expensive) media and it's very time consuming, very few
people use it).]


Bob Hayden wrote:
> Barry, thanks for the positive advice.
>
> Question for you...I'm trying to figure out if this is something I take the
> old HD out of my old PC and then string it up in the new one with this
> adapter, or if it's something I leave in the old PC to do it. The reason I
> am concerned is that the old PC's CD-ROM drive doesn't work so I can't
> install the drivers.
>
> "Barry Watzman" <> wrote in message
> news:46661ac3$0$9904$...
>> Best way to do this is with this device:
>>
>> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=150129128516
>>
>> [If this is sold, do a search for "USB IDE SATA TRI" ... they are
>> offered continuously. $6.99 plus $8.99 Internaltional shipping (from
>> Hong Kong)]
>>
>> Good news: The device and the seller are both great. And it's dirt
> cheap.
>> Bad news: Delivery takes 3 weeks. You can find similar device
>> domestically but they will cost 2x to 3x as much (PLUS shipping).
>>
>> You can get little boards that mount on the back of the IDE drives and
>> convert them to SATA .... about $10-$12.
>>
>> But, whatever, order one of those devices from Hong Kong. You will want
>> it someday when you don't have 3 weeks to spare, and it's not going to
>> exactly break the piggy bank.
>>
>>
>> Bob Hayden wrote:
>>> My new Dell E520 system is on its way so I can replace my aging
> dinosaur.
>>> It's had its problems recently, and when I tried to upgrade from Windows
> 98
>>> to XP it really messed things up and I had to back out of the whole
>>> thing...2 solid days lost fixing that one (it should have upgraded
> without
>>> too much problem).
>>>
>>> At any rate, I have 2 IDE hard disks on my PC with a mountain of data
> (pics,
>>> video, music, Office files, etc) that I want to transfer. Both optical
>>> drives are now non-functional although I do have a 1 GB flash drive.
>>> However, I woule REALLY like to be able to rip the HD drive out and
> install
>>> it on the new PC as a slave drive and then copy everything over.
> However,
>>> the new PC is SATA and the old drives are IDE.
>>>
>>> How best/easiest/cheapest can I transfer everything over? Is there an
> IDE
>>> controller on my new PC and if so how can I access it? Does the DVD
> burner
>>> run off an IDE controller and if so, can I just disconnect the cable and
> the
>>> power and connect it to the HD and then reboot and transfer...then shut
> down
>>> and re-connect the DVD burner?
>>>
>>> Thanks for any and all advice.
>>>
>>>
>
>