I have a dead compaq desktop with a shot motherboard,it has some pictures on the hard drive that I would like to get back. I have a dell optiplex desktop that works how can I retrieve these pictures?

The usual method, if the hard drive is still intact -- which it appears that yours is -- is to mount that hard drive on another computer and read them from there.

1. Is (are) the hard drive(s) on your Dell Optiplex IDE (ATA) or SATA? You can tell by the data cable that is connected to the hard drive. A small datacable indicates SATA. A large, wide (40 wires) ribbon cable indicates IDE.

2. Is (are) the hard drive(s) from your dead Compaq an IDE oar an SATA (or is it much older - MFM, for example)?

3. What operating system is on your Dell Optiplex?