Computer Guru question

[pasayten]

Is there a new Windows version of the embroidery program? It might be able to read the old data files... Somewhere I might have a external hard drive box for ide drives... Will look today... You take the hard drive out of your old pc and plug it into the interface... It then allows you to read the files as long as the disk is not "crashed" too.

As I imagine that the embroidery program probably interfaced with your equipment, you would need a new version of the program to use current equipment with updated windows "print" drivers.

Hmmm... Amazon has an IDE hard drive adapter for $20...

Yes, the Alxum 3-in-1 USB C to SATA & IDE Adapter is designed specifically for transferring data from old hard drives.

Key Data Transfer Features:

Supports both SATA and IDE drives - works with modern SATA drives and older IDE drives
5Gbps transfer speed via USB-C for fast data migration
Simultaneous reading - can connect two drives at once and display both drive letters
One-click cloning function - can clone entire drives offline for backup or migration
Plug-and-play - no drivers needed, just connect and access your old drives
Customers consistently mention it "works great" for copying data from old laptops and backing up drives. One reviewer specifically noted they were able to copy their OS from an old laptop to a new SSD successfully.

[mister_coffee]

There is a little-known Compatibility Mode on modern Windows that lets you run many Windows NT binaries.

There are also hard drive recovery services that might be able to help you for a price.

The moral of the story is that investing in an inexpensive ($75-$150) external hard drive and religiously backing up your data is a Good Idea.

[Jingles]

Was hoping to be able to move retrieve an embroidery program and 1000's of designs, but from what I'm seeing I/ we are S.O.L.. Just thought we'd ask as this group seems pretty informed and talented

[pasayten]

You might be able to boot from a bootable cd and get your data files that are on the hard drive. The actual programs are most likely severely outdated and not transferable. There may be new versions of the programs that you can purchase for the new puter. Were you looking for data and pictures you had on the old puter?

[mister_coffee]

Well, if the old computer won't boot the most likely reason is that the hard drive is damaged.

Depending on how badly damaged it is, you might be able to recover some stuff, including programs. But you probably will have to spend quite a bit of time and possibly a fair amount of money to do that.

Keep in mind that an old computer system of that vintage probably uses an older hard drive interface (I'd bet IDE) and that would require either another old machine or some weird hardware adapter. Those adapters exists and aren't expensive. But you still need to be able to talk to the old filesystem and repair it, which means you'd have to find software that could do just that.

The feasibility of accomplishing anything here very much depends on how damaged that hard drive is.

[Jingles]

Have a question for a computer guru
Recently had to get a new puter and wondering if it is possible to move some of the programs from the old puter, that the OS was Windows NT 2000 to the new puter that has Windows 11? If not is there a way I can access the programs from the old HD?
The old puter would not do a basic boot up.
Thanks in advance for any replies, good or bad news