External hard drive - Anker docking station

Wings

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 25, 2007
349
A couple months ago my laptop died and a member on here recommended the Anker docking station so I could retrieve my data quickly.  I purchased it and when I insert the old hard drive it detects the drive however it says I need to format the disk before I can use it.
 
I tried to re-partition it without formatting, but when "Shrinking the drive" it tells me it will erase any data on this.
 
Am I out of luck or have I done something wrong?
 
note:  the diagnosis was the motherboard crashed on the old laptop