family pics on hard drive- advice please

[S2wade]

hello, I am a novice when it comes to computers. I currently have a pc which isn't working. the last time it was the motherboard that gave up the ghost.
I am however wanting to purchase a new computer, preferably with a touch screen. my current computer is over 8 years old.
if anyone could advise me, I would like to know which computer to buy for home use, but not one used for gaming. I have other consoles for this. i wish to store more pics, video and work from home on the new computer as well as edit film. my budget is no more than £500

Also all the pictures of my family are on the hard drive of my broken computer. what is the easiest and cheapest way of recovering these pictures and how do I go about it. do I utilise the newly purchased computer you are hopefully going to advise me to buy, or do I need an external hard drive to sort the problem.
many thanks in advance
Stuart

 

[robbo100]

You should be able to connect your old drive into your new PC (as a second hard drive) and access the data from it.

I don't know much about which PC is best for you. You may want to post on the PC forum, rather than the specialised HTPC forum.

 

[SUMMONER]

Having removed the hard drive from your old computer you can connect it to the new computer with one these SATA/PATA to USB adapter cable sets.
It comes with all the plugs and adapters needed for the various drives.

If you would like to keep using the old hard drive to store data backups or similar you can also buy a USB hard drive enclosure that can permanently house the old drive, turning it into a proper external hard drive. However first we would need to find out if the old drive's data connection is SATA or PATA.

 

[robbo100]

That is a bit overkill, when you can just open up the case and plug it in using the cables the OP will already have.

 

[SUMMONER]

That is a bit overkill, when you can just open up the case and plug it in using the cables the OP will already have.

If he buys one of those all in one touch screen thingys?

 

[robbo100]

Well, yes, a touch screen thing is overkill too

but he doesn't need a USB adaptor and power supply to connect a hard drive to his new PC. It might be useful for someone who needs to swap out lots of drives on a regular basis, but not for a one-off.

IMHO

Robbo100

 

[SUMMONER]

Well, I assumed he was talking about something like this...


How simple do you think it will be to connect the hard drive to it without a USB adapter?

 

[robbo100]

OK, you have a very fair point with that. I was thinking of a standard desktop with a touchscreen monitor plugged in to it

 

[S2wade]

Hello, thank you for you replies.
firstly how do I know if it is a pata or a sata connection. I like the idea of the of transferring the data through the data cable.
also the all in one computer pictured above, is the type that I would like. which would be best purchased for my£500 ish price range
many thanks
Stuart

 

[spankey spangle]

Pata has a row of 40 pins on the connector and sata is just two connectors if your old setup is 8 years old most likely pata type our was also called IDE. You can also buy a external drive caddy which you install your old drive into

 

[SUMMONER]

Click the picture of the computer to see the specifications and price.

 

[S2wade]

Dear all. thank you very much for your speedy advice. I have had a look at the computer link to amazon, and it looks like it will more than do the jod.
regards
Stuart

 

[spyder viewer]

While you're looking, how about a backup device to make sure you don't lose all your photos.

 

[maf1970]

With the original machine being 8+ years it defo that the drive will be IDE. How many MB / machines come with IDE nowadays ? So using an external enclosure and adapter cable sets are equally valid. I would go with the External enclosure for the OP requirements.
Now I have never been in favour of an all-in-1 because if anything goes wrong you can only go back to the maker.
Also are they not more expensive ?
With such a budget would it be better to get a system box and then try and get a touchscreen ?

 

[S2wade]

Thanks for the advice all. Now that I only need a tower unit as I can get a touch screen later.
Which do you advise me to get for £500 ish.
Something for the kids to do their school work and my wife to work from home. Also for film editing etc. thanks in advance