My PC is not working (all the USB ports stopped working-no monitor,keyboard or mouse) but the hard drive is still good I think. I would like to retrieve the files I have on it by somehow connecting it to my laptop. The Pc runs Windows XP and my laptop is Vista. I have 2 internal hard drives on my laptop already so I'm not sure if this is possible. It looks easy getting the hard drive out of the PC, but I'm not sure about the rest? Thanks

Get an external drive enclosure. Unlike a desktop, you can't connect the drive to the laptop. But you can put it in an enclosure and connect it to the laptop via USB.

Thank you. Sounds easy enough. Do I still make the drive a slave drive?

I have to ask a question here:

1. Old drive in desktop is PATA or SATA?
2. Laptop interface will likely be eSATA or USB?

No, it will be read by the laptop as an external drive with its own drive letter.

On some laptops it is possible to run a couple of cables off your secondary drive in order to hook up a 3.5" drive externally. Also, some come with eSATA ports. I think they use a special USB to SATA cable/converter.

Just some additional options.