HHD Check?

[Glen]

I have an external 120GB HHD and its not working. Its not being recognised at all by my Laptop, when plugged in via its USB. I've tried alsorts like drivers etc and I've been told to try it in a Desktop PC. Its in its own box now and it could be the box see. So I want to know is, is it easy to plug it in a pc and check?? The PC is my girlfriends aunties and she's writing a book on it so i don't want to loose any of her stuff
Anyone can tell me as I have a Laptop I'm not so good with PC internals.
Any useful info will be greatfully appreciated.
I have 80GB of video on it and don't want to loose it as its all underwater stuff from around the world that can't be replaced :cry:

Cheers
G

[Marc Peters]

External drives are typically just an IDE drive in a plastic casing. I've heard quite a few stories of the connection between the drive and the PC going 'kapput' - in which case people have cracked upon the casing, taken the drive out and placed it inside a PC (just connect up to a spare molex power connector and IDE cable). This usually ends up with a working drive, saving all the contents!

[Alan Mills]

But back up your girfriend's cat's neighbours' aunt's best friend's book first - just in case/anyway.

[Glen]

Thankyou for that guys.

Do you know what these cables look like I'm a laptop owner

Its actually my girlfriends-aunties-fiancee's book, to be precice Millsy.
Yes I think a back would be a good idea he's been writing it for months!!

Cheers

G

P.S. I'll let you know how it goes. Fingers crossed