How To Transfer What You Can't See...?

amailmanyouknow · 13th Jan 2007, 05:44 AM

I have a Hitachi notebook where the screen went dead, and there are pictures and music I'd like to transfer to my Dell notebook. (XP on this computer, prob. Windows 98 on the Hitachi.)

Got a serial cable, hooked them up and installed the driver. Went to use the Windows transfer software, and it won't connect. It doesn't recognize that I have the other computer even connected. It also wants to transfer EVERYTHING - there is no way for me to see the hard drive on the other computer.

Can I do that? How do I see the drive? I don't have a separate monitor to hook it up to, I just have these notebooks. Thanks -

Adrian Wong · 13th Jan 2007, 10:05 AM

Well, do you have a spare LCD/CRT monitor? If so, you can hook it up to the Hitachi notebook.

As for transferring your files, IMHO, it would be faster and better to just buy a 2.5" USB hard drive enclosure. If you are into digital photography, then go for the more expensive models that have integrated card readers and a Li-Ion battery.

But no matter what, the USB hard drive enclosure will allow you to access the Hitachi's hard drive. All you need to do is remove the hard drive from the Hitachi notebook and install it into the USB hard drive enclosure.

This allows you to directly access the hard drive at much faster speeds than the serial cable. It's a LOT more convenient too.

Falcone · 13th Jan 2007, 10:43 AM

In my experience old notebooks especially the small form factor ones are not that well designed in terms of HD accessibility, but if you are going to junk the hitachi, might as well hack it up and take out the HD like da boss seyz.

Adrian Wong · 13th Jan 2007, 06:07 PM

If you don't want to remove the hard drive, just hook up the Hitachi to an external monitor and then you can connect both notebooks via a LAN cable.

That's definitely much faster and better than a serial connection.

goldfries · 15th Jan 2007, 01:00 AM

what i did the other day for a friend was to boot a Linux LiveCD, then establish SSH connection to one of my servers (at home) and do massive file transfers that way to backup.

the system's Windows was corrupted and seeing that it's an old machine with lotsa stuff on the HDD, i did her a favor by backing them up - just in case.....

amailmanyouknow · 15th Jan 2007, 10:35 AM

Thanks for all the ideas.

I had it hooked up to my other laptop - I don't have a monitor, as I posted. I do have an external HD, but not an enclosure....I would think that the second laptop could work like a monitor - but if not, maybe I can take it to a friends house and use their monitor.

Thanks again -

Adrian Wong · 15th Jan 2007, 12:47 PM

No problem. Good luck!

13th Jan 2007, 05:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
amailmanyouknow Newbie Join Date: 13 Jan 2007 Posts: 2 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	How To Transfer What You Can't See...? I have a Hitachi notebook where the screen went dead, and there are pictures and music I'd like to transfer to my Dell notebook. (XP on this computer, prob. Windows 98 on the Hitachi.) Got a serial cable, hooked them up and installed the driver. Went to use the Windows transfer software, and it won't connect. It doesn't recognize that I have the other computer even connected. It also wants to transfer EVERYTHING - there is no way for me to see the hard drive on the other computer. Can I do that? How do I see the drive? I don't have a separate monitor to hook it up to, I just have these notebooks. Thanks -

13th Jan 2007, 10:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 30,382 Reputation: 3147 Rep Power: 68	Well, do you have a spare LCD/CRT monitor? If so, you can hook it up to the Hitachi notebook. As for transferring your files, IMHO, it would be faster and better to just buy a 2.5" USB hard drive enclosure. If you are into digital photography, then go for the more expensive models that have integrated card readers and a Li-Ion battery. But no matter what, the USB hard drive enclosure will allow you to access the Hitachi's hard drive. All you need to do is remove the hard drive from the Hitachi notebook and install it into the USB hard drive enclosure. This allows you to directly access the hard drive at much faster speeds than the serial cable. It's a LOT more convenient too. __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

13th Jan 2007, 10:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
Falcone Official Mascot Creator Join Date: 18 Dec 2002 Location: Kay El, Em Wai Posts: 3,209 Reputation: 1705 Rep Power: 27	In my experience old notebooks especially the small form factor ones are not that well designed in terms of HD accessibility, but if you are going to junk the hitachi, might as well hack it up and take out the HD like da boss seyz. __________________ I'm a noob, my photos sucks, but if you can live with that... http://www.pumpkinproject.com/ Flickr

13th Jan 2007, 06:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 30,382 Reputation: 3147 Rep Power: 68	If you don't want to remove the hard drive, just hook up the Hitachi to an external monitor and then you can connect both notebooks via a LAN cable. That's definitely much faster and better than a serial connection. __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

15th Jan 2007, 12:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 30,382 Reputation: 3147 Rep Power: 68	No problem. Good luck! __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

15th Jan 2007, 01:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
goldfries More Than Meets The Eye Join Date: 22 Jan 2003 Location: KL/PJ Malaysia Posts: 7,877 Reputation: 539 Rep Power: 18	what i did the other day for a friend was to boot a Linux LiveCD, then establish SSH connection to one of my servers (at home) and do massive file transfers that way to backup. the system's Windows was corrupted and seeing that it's an old machine with lotsa stuff on the HDD, i did her a favor by backing them up - just in case.....

15th Jan 2007, 10:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
amailmanyouknow Newbie Join Date: 13 Jan 2007 Posts: 2 Reputation: 0 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for all the ideas. I had it hooked up to my other laptop - I don't have a monitor, as I posted. I do have an external HD, but not an enclosure....I would think that the second laptop could work like a monitor - but if not, maybe I can take it to a friends house and use their monitor. Thanks again -