Getting files off an old PC

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Got an old (10+yrs) PC I want to dump but I have forgotten Windows password to get on. Any idea how I can circumvent this to see what is on the PC drive and then get files I might want off it.

 

[Crazyface]

There is a free program available that allows you become the Administrator somewhere on the 'net. Just google it.

 

[Alex1975]

Plug the hdd into your new PC as a slave and just access it via explorer on your new PC.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

B

Plug the hdd into your new PC as a slave and just access it via explorer on your new PC.

Easier said than done as the drive will probably be an old IDE type and you will have trouble finding a caddy to comment to.

However try this
Start the PC and start tapping F8 like a wood pecker, tap tap tap until a menu comes up .
Choose Safe mode and then don't choose your normal log in, choose the Administrator profile,
Then go to start, my computer, c drive, documents & settings, your user name , your stuff should be visible.

You may also be able to change the password or at least clear it from control panel users
Sometimes in safe mode on XP the USB drivers don't load, so an external drive or USB stick may not work.

In this case, go back into the admin profile as above, control panel, users and create a new profile .
Start the PC in normal mode and log into the new profile and then get into your docs then tfr to USB drive.

When done open the case and remove the hard drive before ditching the case, keep it safe or cut it in half with an angle grinder

Pm with any issues, I'm a computer engineer

 

[Alex1975]

B
Easier said than done as the drive will probably be an old IDE type and you will have trouble finding a caddy to comment to.

However try this
Start the PC and start tapping F8 like a wood pecker, tap tap tap until a menu comes up .
Choose Safe mode and then don't choose your normal log in, choose the Administrator profile,
Then go to start, my computer, c drive, documents & settings, your user name , your stuff should be visible.

You may also be able to change the password or at least clear it from control panel users
Sometimes in safe mode on XP the USB drivers don't load, so an external drive or USB stick may not work.

In this case, go back into the admin profile as above, control panel, users and create a new profile .
Start the PC in normal mode and log into the new profile and then get into your docs then tfr to USB drive.

When done open the case and remove the hard drive before ditching the case, keep it safe or cut it in half with an angle grinder

Pm with any issues, I'm a computer engineer

Will there not be an IDE plug on the motherboard?

 

[PhilTheFragger]

All depends on the age of the PC he is connecting to, what if he has a laptop now.
You also need to have a spare molex power cable and don't forget to change the jumpers on the old HDD from master to slave
Are you lost yet young Padawan

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

All depends on the age of the PC he is connecting to, what if he has a laptop now.
You also need to have a spare molex power cable and don't forget to change the jumpers on the old HDD from master to slave
Are you lost yet young Padawan

It's a HP BRIO BA600 with Windows 98 2ndEdn

I did say it was old - I think we would have bought it when my eldest was about to go to secondary school - so that would have been 12-13yrs ago, Probably nothing worth getting off the drive other than just maybe some pictures of the kids when little.

I have a laptop and a desktop

 

[Alex1975]

All depends on the age of the PC he is connecting to, what if he has a laptop now.
You also need to have a spare molex power cable and don't forget to change the jumpers on the old HDD from master to slave
Are you lost yet young Padawan

Hehe no, but I guess I am showing a lag in time since I last pulled a PC apart. If you think back they used to put a connector for a 3.5" floppy on motherboards for years after those drives were extinct. I would expect to see a molex still in the PSU cable bundle? if not its only an adapter needed. I used to overclock PCs and ice cool them for competitions so its all logo style easy in my mind.

 

[Alex1975]

It's a HP BRIO BA600 with Windows 98 2ndEdn

I did say it was old - I think we would have bought it when my eldest was about to go to secondary school - so that would have been 12-13yrs ago, Probably nothing worth getting off the drive other than just maybe some pictures of the kids when little.

I have a laptop and a desktop

What Phil is saying is that your new PC may not have the hard disk contentions that your old ones have so my solutions gets technical.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

I

It's a HP BRIO BA600 with Windows 98 2ndEdn

I did say it was old - I think we would have bought it when my eldest was about to go to secondary school - so that would have been 12-13yrs ago, Probably nothing worth getting off the drive other than just maybe some pictures of the kids when little.

I have a laptop and a desktop

The instructions in my long post were with XP in mind, but should still work with win 98. Although it has been some time since I saw such a machine.

If it doesn't work shout back and plan B will be discussed

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Hehe no, but I guess I am showing a lag in time since I last pulled a PC apart. If you think back they used to put a connector for a 3.5" floppy on motherboards for years after those drives were extinct. I would expect to see a molex still in the PSU cable bundle? if not its only an adapter needed. I used to overclock PCs and ice cool them for competitions so its all logo style easy in my mind.

Geeks of the world unite

 

[Alex1975]

Geeks of the world unite

Very much so