Both input and output cables on my laptop charger were hanging out of the insulation just near the ends. When the two power cables touched and blew a fuse, I thought I better repair them. I forced open the charger, cut the cables, and resoldered them on further down the cable.

However, I didn't check the positive and negative, plugged into my laptop, blew a fuse or something. I took the laptop apart. I cannot find a fuse, and also broke off the little socket which the flat keyboard cable plugs into. Oh woe is me!

I have given up on that laptop.

Question: if I plug that hard drive into my other laptop, will I be able to boot from it? I backed up the HD just about a week ago, but this weeks stuff, not a lot, will be lost otherwise.

Alternatively, can I plug such a HD into a tower computer to get the things I want off of it?

Alternative 2: plug the HD into another laptop, boot from Ubuntu stick, copy the files onto the stick, shut down.

What is the best way to do this?
Are laptop HD sockets different from tower computer HD sockets?

Get an external USB enclosure, and just plug it in. Copy the data off.
Safer than potentially fscking up another laptop.

One easy way to retrieve your documents, photos etc from that hard drive would be to install it inside a cheap 2.5 inch enclosure like this one and then connect it, as an external USB hard drive, to either your functioning laptop or desktop.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003RIL0E...AC8EZ44F6689MG

Then copy and paste the data to laptop/desktop.

Asuming the drive did not get damaged I also agree that a connecting via USB is safer. Another suggestion is a USB to IDE/SATA adapter like the link below.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...A&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thanks guys, I didn't know that there were such things. Just buying one now, not on amazon uk, as I am in China!

Pedroski,

I noticed that, but then again it will only cost you about 10 yuan (£1.05) locally if you are good at bargaining!

"amazon uk, as I am in China"

That seems to be the long way around.

Thanks again!

Here I buy things like that on jd.com They are very fast. I bought a new laptop and the HD usb case last night. They will be delivered today about lunchtime!