How it works
An enclosure provides a physical housing and a bridge between a drive's own interface and an external computer connection. Matching the shape is not enough: a SATA M.2 drive and an NVMe M.2 drive can require different electronics despite similar dimensions. The enclosure also has supported drive lengths, power requirements and cooling arrangements. A cable with the right plug may still restrict speed or provide insufficient power.
Using an old laptop drive externally can make readable files accessible without starting the old computer. It does not bypass encryption or repair damaged storage. If the disk is detected but asks to be initialised or formatted, accepting that request can destroy useful recovery information. The original filesystem may also need compatible software on the new computer. Access permissions and encryption keys are separate from connector compatibility.
Practical checks
Record the drive model before buying a housing and compare its interface with the enclosure specification. Back up accessible files before further experiments. Use a supported cable and adequate power, then safely eject the drive after transfers finish. If the drive makes unusual noises, repeatedly disconnects or contains irreplaceable data, stop repeated trials and choose an appropriate recovery approach rather than formatting it to make the warning disappear.