BleepingComputer.com: hard drive problem

I have a very old computer that restarts automatically a minute after it has booted up. I have some files that I want to take from it so I removed the hard drive and connect it to my other computer with an IDE cable. I have 2 other hard drives and a dvd drive connected with SATA cables. I try to start up the computer but every time the windows logo comes up, the computer crashes. Is there a way I could somehow access the drive and take the files out?

sounds like a bad hard drive. that being said are you sure you have the BIOS setup for IDE hard drives, and the jumper set up properly? personally, anytime I try to get files of a bad hard drive, I like to use a Ubuntu Live CD (linux) to get them, normally by booting the computer the hard drive was installed on up on the linux live CD (it can and will run just from the CD drive) and use it to access the drive and then save the files there, either by burning them to CD (if the computer has 2 CD drives) a usb disc or transfering them over network.

Yea, most likely a bad hard drive. I'm not sure if I had the BIOS setup or anything; however, the BIOS was able to detect the hard drive as a master. Since I was able to bootup with the hard drive with the other computer for a few minutes, I thought it would be possible to retrieve some files from it using this computer. However it just crashes immediately during bootup. Do you think one of those hard drive external enclosure might work? And I'm not really familiar with Linux so could you give me a little more information on going about doing that.

This post has been edited by doen: 02 February 2010 - 08:36 PM

might sound strange...but...put that drive in the freezer for a night. (put it inside a large sandwich bag and seal it)
Try booting from it the next day.

Am I crazy? hell no.....it actually works!....long enough to retrieve some files, but its a temp solution, so act fast!

well the freezer idea might work, never tried it but I cant see it hurting anything to try it so go for it. as far as linux is concerned, you need a live cd of some sort, I normally use Ubuntu http://www.ubuntu.com/GetUbuntu/download you should be able to get it there. just download it and burn it to a disc its already a ISO image so its pretty easy. from there put the burned cd into the computers CD drive, boot up with it, select the option that says something along the lines of try ubuntu (should be first option) it should load right up, then you hit home and see if it finds the hard drive or not.

I was able to retrieve my files using ubuntu. Thank you so much.

glad you got it figured out