Windows 10 Troubleshooting Access to Data on an Old Time Computer's Hard Drives

[NettleWarbler]

I have an old Time (make computer ) , i put it in the old cupboard downstairs . It was working , i tried it yesterday and couldn't load windows . How can i see whats on the hard drives they are ribbon fitting's which i removed .

 

[Meowkatt]

I don’t know what make of computer you mean but assuming it’s not damaged and working, you‘d need to plug it into a compatible interface in order to try and receive data. There are IDE to USB adapters (I’m assuming that’s the cable type you’re talking about, if not you’d need to look into something else) that you can use to open it on a more modern computer. I have never used this myself though.

 

[ussnorway]

in a worse case senario you can remove the harddrive and plug that into another working system to read the files... most computer shops will do this for you if you don't know how

 

[NettleWarbler]

Time PCs were pretty popular in the uk 20 years ago , lots of computer mags sold them . My hard drive was 40GB ( i think that was the size , it was the largest around , the price was £14-50 pretty dear ) .

 

[NettleWarbler]

Meowkatt , could you give a little detail of how to plug it into a compatible interface

 

[Meowkatt]

So, like i said I don’t think it’ll be compatible with a modern motherboard. I don’t believe motherboard manufacturers still add old port compatibility from something that old. So you’l need an adapter to act as an interface to use it on a newer system as the current ones wouldn’t be compatible. Or you can do as Norway said and bring it to a computer shop, they should be able to help you out.

I did have a look just to confirm the hard-drive type, so I can tell you definitely what cable you’d need but I couldn’t find details on the models of these computers online.

 

[NettleWarbler]

Something like that

(ide cables, Only Cable) Usb 2.0 To 2.5" 3.5" Cable For Hard Drive Disk Pata Ide Drive Converter Adapter , it is a bad photo though .​

 

[Meowkatt]

Check the port on the storage. Or send a picture of the label on the storage. This should let you use it on a modern device, providing its working.

 

[NettleWarbler]

How about that USB 2.0 to IDE SATA 5.25 S-ATA/3.5/2.5 Adapter Cable UK seller, there's a few cheap one's from China . i'll give them a miss it'll be the dark night's again before that get's here .

 

[NettleWarbler]

Or this , USB 2.0 to SATA/IDE Converter HDD Cable for 2.5''/3.5'' Hard Drive CD DVD RW Rom

 

[Meowkatt]

So long as it is compatible with the port on your storage device, it is all good.

 

[NettleWarbler]

It does mention 3.5'' Hard Drive port on the storage , i'll chance it . I don't know when that will be though .

 

[krunker]

Hello. You can double-click the hard drive's letter from the right pane's Hard Disk Drives section to view the drive's contents. To view files within folders, double-click the folder.

krunker

 

[NettleWarbler]

How would i load them in a sata hard drive .

 

[ussnorway]

In both cases the plug is designed to only go in one way
A serial drive (older type) has two rows of plugs but the middle hole is blocked so a pin can't go in if you have it upside down

A sata plug is L shaped

Usb plugs have a plastic tag to stop them being upside down until someone realised that was dum and now type 3 Usb plugs can just be pushed in either way

Sent from my Nokia X20 using Windows Forums mobile app

 

[NettleWarbler]

I don't know what you mean it's all foriegn to me type 3 Usb plugs can just be pushed in either way .

 

[NettleWarbler]

I have a l'esprit digital camera , i got with the time computer I did like it it was very easy to use . The camera is here but i must have mislaid the cd , The time computer system & driver cd is here would i be able to take the software from that .

 

[ussnorway]

have a look on their webpage for a driver \ software if its not on your cd

 

[NettleWarbler]

I tried a while ago got a site with drivers , its the desktop app I need . This site could be helpful .https://archive.org/details/digitaldream-for-lesprit-digital-cameras

 

[NettleWarbler]

How am I supposed to download that .