Use of enclosure to access hard drive

[db]

I checked the archives but found no answer to this obvious question. I am very unknowledgeable about computers.

My t42 suffers from the shuts-down-when-moved graphics chip problem. I am under warranty and will send it in for service. Can I remove the hard drive before sending the t42 in, put it in a 2.5" usb enclosure, then access my files using a desktop? Even though the disk contains the operating system and is used for booting up the laptop? I would ask the Lenovo service folks but so far my experience with them has been less than optimal.

If so, anything I should look for in an enclosure?

Thanks for helping the clueless!

DB

[visionviper]

In my opinion it would be easier to just move what you need from the laptop onto a flash drive, but yes, if you bought the proper external enclosure you could put your hard drive in it and hook it up to a desktop.

[andyP]

As Visionviper says an hdd enclosure will present no problem acessing your files, just make sure you delete any bios hdd passwords should you have set any.

[kim-chee-san]

Enclosure work well. Another option is getting an EIDE to USB cable. I bought for less than $10 made by Bytecc (sp?)--hook it up to the back of the harddrive and then plug it into a USB port and you're good to go.

[carbon_unit]

Any of these USB suggestions will work fine but be sure to remove any BIOS HDD passwords before removing it from your T42 as stated by andyP earlier. This will eliminate any headaches later.

[db]

Thanks so much for the helpful replies!

Hopefully I can send it in sans hard drive ...

DB