First, the requirements:

1) Needs to be able to mount a 3.5" IDE HDD inside.

2) Needs to be able to connect to a Dell Laptop via USB connection

3) Needs to be able to be seen by Dell laptop BIOS

4) Windows 7 Professional Svc Pk 1 must be able to recognize the drive

Here is what I'm trying to do:

I have a collection of computers which are no longer operable. However, I have data that I need to recover from the hard drives within those computers.

I have a very nifty program called getdataback for NTFS that I used many years ago when I was in the IT business. It is able to recover data that has been erased, data from HDD's that have been reformatted as well the ability to recover data from drives that have been re-partitioned.

My goal is to be able to bring the drives up from my laptop, mount the drives under Windows, manipulate the drives and retrieve the data.

Thanks in advance.

Not really what I had in mind, but a great idea nonetheless. Prolly substitute something in place of the baitfish though.

=d>

No need for an external case. I've been using this for years. IDE and Sata compatible no drivers etc. Just plug it in and go. Can't beat the price.

Is your hard drive indeed, an IDE (Parallel with a 40 pin ribbon connector) or SATA a small > .5" flat cable?

http://www.computer-hardware-explained.com/image-files/sata-vs-ide-labelled.jpg 

By picking the correct interface, any of the following would do:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=40000092%20600006254%20600006260&IsNodeId=1&Description=usb%20hard%20drive%20case&name=Yes&Order=BESTMATCH 

Since you plan to run a 3.5" drive and it's a laptop, you will want to use an enclosure with an external power supply. I know some Dell laptops limit current on USB ports so a USB powered enclosure, even one with dual connectors will typically not supply enough current to drive a 3.5" desktop drive. If it a laptop drive, you might be able to use a USB only powered enclosure.

This is a great solution if you just need to read data off the drive.

That's what I'm thinking. The drive will prolly have to run a few hours. It takes that long for the program to read everything. Some solutions I've seen have multiple USB cables, one being for power alone.

Actually, I have a few drives. But, if memory serves me, they are all IDE. I built them about 12-15 years ago.

Thanks Gene

Me likes this.

Thanks CB

Then, what Drafter said.

Do hey still make them???

This thing is great. I've used to to pull data off tons of drives for people. Just plug it into the HD and pop in the usb cable to your machine and you can see everything. Windows see's it immediately with no driver installation. It will accept laptop HD's too. Best $20 I ever spent for a computer gadget.

Hadn't seen one of those in decades.

Haven't been around but 47 years (be 48 in a few days) so hasn't been quite that long for me. But, I'd have to say at least 40 or better.