Transferring stuff from mac external hard drive to Pc

[TheSpreadingChestnutTree]

Is it possible to transfer from my old mac's hard drive, and onto my new laptop? Can I just plug it in, or is it more complicated? Thanks in advance

Just to make it clear, it is an external hard drive, thanks.

It depends on what format the external disk drive is in and how it connects.

The format is probably the bigger problem, if it was a shop bought external drive that you never reformatted then it will probably just work. However if it was reformatted as Mac disk then Windows will need some special software to be able to read it.

Thanks for replying, will it tell me that if I just plug it into new laptop? Can't remember what was done when it was bought, would rather avoid asking xp if possible!

It should do... If you plug it in and Windows can't read it it shouldn't do anything nasty to it... Just read any pop ups carefully incase it does ask you if you want to format it.

Cheers, I'll give it a go

Just had a look and it's a different kind of connection, not usb, one with a sort of Y symbol, and there isn't one on the laptop. Does that mean I will have to transfer using a memory stick or something?

Probably Firewire, the icon from here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Firewire_Icon.svg

People do sell adapters, but I'm not at all sure that they will actually work in the way that people expect them to. I don't think it's as simple as that.

You can buy Firewire cards that plug into computers that you could then plug the firewire drive into. But that might not be cheap, it might not even be possible on your machine.

Yes it is firewire. I know exp copied the pics and music onto his pc and I think he must have done it with a memory stick. Does that sound possible?

Yup USB memory sticks are possible, both Macs and PCs will read them. But the disk is possibly much bigger than a memory stick so it might take several attempts to move the lot.

Thanks, will buy a memory stick tomorrow.