Several questions about replacement fan and define a term

[Marthe48]

I have been doing some homework, and see that Windows 10 is supposed to update automatically. So I think that if I get the fan replaced on the HP, it'll be usable for some time to come. I looked in the inline manual for the HP I have and there are several fan numbers listed, which depend on other specs. If I turn the HP on, the fan is noisy. Can I turn it on and put it on a cooling pad with a fan long enough to read the specs so I can figure out what fan will fit? I don't want the fan problem to cause more damage to the other parts. Before I take it for repair, I want to have the fan, so I can head off any ordering and shipping delays.

I am going to go ahead and buy a new laptop. I understand most of the specs. I would like to get a laptop with an SD card reader, so I can transfer pictures from digital cameras. What exactly am I looking for? I am looking at this computer, but I don't know if the "Card Reader-Digital Media Card Reader" is what I need?

https://computers.woot.com/offers/hp-probook-645-g1-14-amd-320gb-laptop-1?ref=w_cnt_lnd_cat_pc_2_16

I am thinking of getting the hard drive out of the Dell that dropped on its corner and then retrieving the files I need from it. I found a brand new male to male USB cable. Can I use it to transfer information? cgziggy wrote that I could get an enclosure for the hard drive and then plug it into a USB port. I'll get an enclosure if that's what I need.

February is a busy month for me, lots of birthdays, and I am working on this set of problems as I can. Thank you so much for any advice.