thanks for the info everyone. Harrkev your explanation makes it sound pretty simple (other than i would have to tear my laptop apart without breaking anything) I may try this if i feel courageous and can find the part that you all are talking about. but i think i may just pay the money when i have it and let the "experts" do it.

as far as the other questions the external HD was bought to get the pictures off faster but the laptop screwed up before i got home with the ExHD. the OS on the laptop was Windows 2000 (I think that's what the OS was as i am not that computer literate other than checking my email and responding to sites like these) I dont even know what LINUX means so yeah that would be a problem for me.

The ExHD will be used to backup the pictures (if i can get them retrieved) and i will also be burning them to CD as the new comp has a burner.

thanks everyone for your info and help

kirby