You can probably connect up an external display while you get all your files off it, first thing i would do is check if the drive is sata or the older ide type connection, if its a sata drive theres nothing stopping you connecting it to a desktop computer (got one hooked up to mine), save what you want from the drive using it as a slave and then format it and just carry on using it, or buy a case and use it as a usb connected external drive

sata look like this


ide looks like this



and this is ide with an adaptor fitted

[IMG][/IMG]

and the adaptor on its own

[IMG][/IMG]

Not sure if I'll be able to hook up another display. My mom has an extra monitor from a broken desktop so maybe I could work out something there. When the time comes I'll open up my laptop and see what type of hdd it is.

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in uk you can pick them up from £2.20p