Current Events > Computer people, I got a question...

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So I have an old laptop. The Power supply is fucked. if the wire isn't in the right position it instantly shuts off. it won't charge. last time i plugged it in i shorted out my power and had to reset the breaker...

...that laptop has a bunch of old files and programs i used to use for making music and i've really been trying to get back into that. My two options are to repurchase all my software and use an enclosure to access the files on the HD but i was also thinking....

...if i were to buy a new power supply for that laptop would that solve the power issue? I really just want to connect it to a monitor and keyboard i have. never having to open the laptop itself. just mount it somewhere and have it controlled Via external mouse and keyboard...But the thing is old. I have another old Laptop with a broken power supply (got it from a friend who had no idea what to do with it) and i was thinking of just buying a new supply for that and swapping the HDs....Would that work?

Ideas?
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Are you sure it's the power supply and not the port on the laptop? Damage can happen to both.

If it's the former, then yes, you can just buy a new power supply.
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It could be the port....Given that the 2nd laptop i mentioned is fairly newer, if i just fixed that one would swapping the HDs be an option too?
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laptops don't have psu, not like an internal one.
im confused like are you referring to chargers/power bricks? i mean yeah you could use one from another computer if the makes and models are the same.

generic chargers for laptops are like 20-30 bucks

swapping the hard drives would not work unless the computers are identical
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yemmy posted...

generic chargers for laptops are like 20-30 bucks

i bought a new charger and a new battery for it years ago and the same issues were apparent...so i'm guessing its the port?
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It sounds like the port is bad. I'd just take out the hard drive and retrieve the data using my Kingwin EZ-Connect USB to SATA/IDE Adapter.
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i mean i have most of the files backed up...my main issue are the programs.
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TheVipaGTS posted...

It could be the port....Given that the 2nd laptop i mentioned is fairly newer, if i just fixed that one would swapping the HDs be an option too?

Yes, the HDD will work, but it will make you format, though depending on how old the laptop and the version of Windows is, I have booted an OS from one laptop to another in the past that weren't identical.

You can also probably stick the HDD in the second laptop and use a live Ubuntu image to retrieve your stuff onto a USB drive. There should also be ways to retrieve the licenses outside of doing all this, or you can just attempt to stick the individual program folders into the corresponding Program Files under a new or different installation. Doesn't always work though.
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