ok.. I now have a brand new USB enclosure, to test the old 'failed' hard drive with the new PC and or laptop.

I actually bought it about six years ago, just in case it ever came in useful,
but it's taken a couple of days to discover which box it was stored in.

Quite a versatile external enclosure, either SATA or IDE drives can go in it, and it can connect by USB 2 or eSATA.

Anyway, I'll get on with the job as soon as the weather cools down a bit.
I'm sweating buckets and feeling too sleepy at the moment to concentrate..