Salvageable items from laptop

[Magnum]

I have a desktop system and an HP laptop.

I was working on getting sensors working on it to monitor cpu and fan info.

It wasn't showing any fan speeds.

I have dissassembled laptops b4.

So I decided to clean the fan.

I noticed that many screws were different lengths and widths.

While disconnecting some ribbon connections which were hard to see, one started falling apart.

I decided to just salvage what I can from it.

What do you recommend I save ? :-)

[felipe]

If you are talking about the whole laptop, then a good option will be the hard disk...

[Magnum]

Thanks.

I saved hard drive,memory,and battery.

May never have need as laptop is over 10 yrs old.

It would be nice if I could use hd in my desktop.

[hutch--]

Andy,

See what the connection is on the laptop HDD. If its a SATA you could probably use a simple SATA cable to connect it to your motherboard on your desktop. You wil also need a power connection which should be available from the power supply cables.

[sinsi]

Get a hard drive enclosure, convert it to an external drive (or just plug it in to the SATA connector like hutch said). It's just a standard hard drive (usually).
Keep the power brick too, they can be useful since they can fit more than one laptop.

[Magnum]

Here is what I have.

Code Select Expand

WD Scorpio Blue (320GB, SATA-300)

    Capacity
    320 GB
    Features
    Shock Guard, WhisperDrive, SecurePark, S.M.A.R.T.
    Interface
    SATA 3Gb/s
    Buffer Size
    8 MB
    Weight
    4.13 oz
    Manufacturer
    Western Digital Corp.

Miscellaneous

    Microsoft Certifications
    Works with Windows Vista
    Works with Windows Vista
    Software and devices that carry the Works with Windows Vista logo have been tested for baseline compatibility with PC's running.

Interface Provided

   
    Connector Type
    7 pin Serial ATA
    Storage Interface
    Serial ATA-300
    Interface
    Serial ATA-300

Expansion & Connectivity

    Interfaces
    1 x SATA 3 Gb/s - 7 pin Serial ATA


[anunitu]

With the price of HD's these days,I think trying to "salvage" a very old drive a little unwise,because would you really trust your data on such a drive?

even ssd's are coming down to within reason and offer better life times due to no,or less moving parts.

worth spending the money now instead of later trying to recover your data.

[Magnum]

I am not trying to salvage data.

But you are right.

Being crammed in a tight space has to be hard on a drive.

I recall the laptop discoloring a table due to heat.

[hutch--]

If the HDD looks like its been cooked for a long time, get one of the free disk analysis tools and check the disk out. There is a luck of the draw element with HDDs, I recently lost a 4tb disk that had never overheated and did not have long hours on it.

[Magnum]

I am just going to throw it away or maybe make a mobile out of it. :-)