Question : Old hard drive(win98se) put into new Win XP computer.  Can't access old drive...

On new XP computer BIOS sees old HD.  Device Manager sees it too.

Old HD does not show up as a drive letter or in any other way I can figure.  (I'm new to XP, but basically just a low level computer user, at best).

In Disk Manager the old HD has partitions, some 'active' some empty, which I think is correct.

Old HD came from a computer that just failed to turn on one morning.  No signs of life.  No catastrophes like lightening, etc. that I know of.  No matter what I tried, I couldn't make the old computer 'live again' and I needed a computer asap, so I got the new one.  I've spent three weeks trying to find out what I don't know so I can read the old HD.  No luck.  At least I didn't crash the new computer in the process.

Old and new HD are 20GB, and I just want to recover some stuff from the old one if at all possible.  It was just too big to backup, so I'll have to pay the price if I can't read it.  Help please.  TIA...

rdanz

Don't take the points allocation seriously.  I'm new here, so I just figured 2/3 of my initial cache would show I'm serious.  

rdanz

Answer : Old hard drive(win98se) put into new Win XP computer.  Can't access old drive...

Well Rdanz, what can I say?

There's a fine line between trying to help, and doing it for the indicidual that seeks assistance, or perhaps just direction.

This question has been addressed many different ways, a few other experts have come and gone, and we are left here holding the proverbial bag ;)

Don't get me wrong - I'd like nothing better than to be able to put the answer to your concern on a silver platter, but it was surely more complex than what it appeared at the outset.

That having been said, I've participated in many other questions in the meantime to the tune of over 5000 points worth since this question was raied, and am now in the 10,000+ points category, so I'm kind of celebrating here with you ;)

Anyway, if it was simply a matter of points, I'd have been long gone a week later.  I realize I'm not discussing the question here, but just wanted you to know that I was willing to hang in until a reasonable solution came about.

What I see happening here is that you've received a lot of good info not just from me, but several others earlier and along the way, and now have enough information to go on the search by yourself.  Oh I'll still be around, don't worry - but I think it best that this one gets closed off, and points (if any) be disseminated as per your call.  Should you wish to consider a points split for anyone else who assisted you here, that is also entirely possible.

Just ask, and we'll try to help (as always).

Sincerely,
Ted, the Modem Mixer