BleepingComputer.com: How can I get files off an old Win95 laptop

I have an old Toshiba Satelite Pro 440CDT running Windows 95 OSR2 (Pentium, 48MB RAM, 1.34GB HD). I would like to be able to get some files off it, however, I am having problems figuring out how to do it. The following are the options I considered:
LAN - this was the most logical, especially since I believe that is used to be connected to this network. I have a Netgear FA411 PCMCIA ethernet card inserted. It has power and the drivers are installed, however, Windows does not recognize that it is inserted, and in Control Panel-PCMCIA both slots are listed as empty.
USB flash drive - I tried several of these from different companies, however they don't work, I assume because Win95 doesn't have drivers for flash drives. Is there a version of Linux or UBCD that I could run on such an old laptop that has USB drivers?
External floppy drive - this plugs into what appears to be a proprietary port. Windows does not recognize that it is plugged in.
Removing the hard drive - I tried this too, and the screw holding the hard drive bay in place is too tight and it started stripping. I would rather not demolish the laptop in order to get the hard drive out.
Direct Cable Connection - If I remember correctly, this was a feature in Win95 that allowed you to connect directly to another computer over a serial or parallel cable. However, I don't know what to do on the computer on the other end; I would want to connect it to a WinXP computer.
HyperTerminal over the modem - Is it possible to send files through HyperTerminal over a direct phone wire from laptop to computer, or would I have to connect each one to a separate phone line and dial into the other?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanx.
Adam

Since you can't remove the HDD without wrecking it, you could try this? It is a Long shot, Mate, and will only work if the Main Computer CD/DVD is IDE, Not SATA. If it is SATA, use another one that is IDE.

Power down your Main Computer, remove the side and disconnect the wiring for CD/DVD Units attached. Turn it on it's side for ease. Keep your Longest Leads, IDE Cable and Power Cable to one side. Open up the Laptop after making sure it is totally shut down and connect the IDE Cable and the Power Cable to it. (You can sit the LapTop on top of the turned over Case to make the distance shorter.)

Power up the Main Computer and the HDD Drive from the LapTop should be listed as D: Drive. But actually a a Secondary Main Drive in the BIOS.

Take what Data you want off it and save it. (that is basically the way to go if you could get the HDD out of the LapTop, Mate.)

After that reconnect your CD/DVD Units.

BTW, MERRY CHRISTMAS.

This post has been edited by Abacus 7: 25 December 2009 - 12:06 PM

Quote

Not a straight forward serial or parallel cable, but a Null serial or parallel cable
The internal wiring is different
The same goes for the LAN RJ45 connection
It is called a Null or Crossover cable

Thanx everyone for their help.
However:
Abacus 7: I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. My problem in getting out the hard drive was not that it will destroy the hard drive, but rather that I'll have to destroy the laptop in order to remove it. Additionally, I believe that laptop drives plug directly into the case and not into a cable, so without removing the drive how would I be able to connect it to the computer?

garmanma: I was intending to plug it into my router if I would be using LAN. Additionally, I still don't know what to do on the computer for DCC.

A decent LiveCD (bootable) will definitely need more than 50MB of RAM for the graphical user interface.
You could give this one a try though.

adambrown, on Dec 30 2009, 06:36 AM, said:

Sorry, Mate, I diddn't realise that you couldn't open your Laptop up.

ReviverSoft: Thank you so much! I downloaded DSLinux like you suggested, and once I figured out how to use it, it worked like a charm!

Glad it helped.
They (linux live CDs) can be a life saver, when you need help.

Also check out Knoppix. Never hurts to have a bunch of LiveCDs lying around.

Good luck!

This post has been edited by ReviverSoft: 31 December 2009 - 04:29 PM