New laptops (sort of) and old ones (really, really old)

[hmich176]

Hi all. I'm running 8.04 Ubuntu on an HP Pavilion dv6000. But, the problem isn't on this laptop. It's on my "Ancient One."

It is a GRiD 1755 (made by Tandy). It has 4MB of RAM and 80MB of hard drive space. I broke it out for the first time in 6 years. Turned it on, no dice. It goes into a boot screen, but then it stalls out saying the hard drive has failed.

Now, I'm not surprised by that. However, I'm not looking to salvage the computer, just the information on the hard drive. Everything I've found has said to find a new hard drive. This is not an option.

So, now to my question. Is there anyway I can link this laptop to the "Ancient One" so I can get a look at what's on the hard drive?

I don't know if this is the best place for this question, and if it's not, feel free to move it to a better location.

[starcannon]

My first thought is to attempt to get a usb adapter for that hdd and plug the little guy into a usb port on your newer laptop.

If a usb adapter is not available for that hdd, then perhaps I'd attempt a ide adapter and plug it into a desktop if you can get access to one.

Anyway thats how I'd likely start trying to tackle the situation.

What kind of hdd is in the ancient laptop, can you pull the hdd out and give us the brand, model, interface; if so i'll help you locate cables/adapters that may be available on the internet.

[starcannon]

Okay, I think I found the HDD thats in it, or one like it anyway:

http://tigerdirect.partsearch.com/Part/Grid+Systems+Inc/Grid/1755/Conner/Conner/CP2084/Refurbished.aspx

It's an IDE drive, with some luck an adapter of some sort should be possible.

[starcannon]

Does that have a standard 40pin IDE cable on it? if so I think you could use something like this:
http://www.sourcingmap.com/usb-cable-sata-ide-hdd-adapter-converter-p-18714.html

GL thats the best I could come up with.

[lswb]

Well, my memory of the good old days of 386 and 486 processors and 80MB hard drives, is that hard drive parameters had to be entered in the BIOS for the system to boot, and if the CMOS battery died, as it surely has on a system not run in 6 years, then that information would need to be reentered. It's possible that a more modern system, with this drive installed, would recognize it and be able to mount it. If not, good luck googling those settings!