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Recovering Files from a Dead Laptop
redraptor
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I have a laptop that gave me several problems over the last couple months but it always ran pretty well if not a little hot and noisey. I was looking into fixing it's broken up shell when it just powered off one day. After that it would not turn on anymore, the power button does absolutely nothing.
I believe the heat that it was running at it caused something to melt down in the processor or video card range, which is fine and kind of expected, it wasn't exactly used for critical applications. I haven't got it looked at yet, but would love to extract my files from it as soon as possible, I know the hard drive is fine. Is there a good way to do this? I'm not familar with any methods that would work well for a laptop.
I've researched hard drive enclosures a bit but from what I can gather they are used for desktop harddrives which are pulled out and then they basically run power through it. and you take what you need via USB? I'm aware of connecting the hard drive as an auxilary to a desktop but the only other computer I have is a laptop so that would only work if I popped open both laptops wouldn't it. What can I do?
I believe the heat that it was running at it caused something to melt down in the processor or video card range, which is fine and kind of expected, it wasn't exactly used for critical applications. I haven't got it looked at yet, but would love to extract my files from it as soon as possible, I know the hard drive is fine. Is there a good way to do this? I'm not familar with any methods that would work well for a laptop.
I've researched hard drive enclosures a bit but from what I can gather they are used for desktop harddrives which are pulled out and then they basically run power through it. and you take what you need via USB? I'm aware of connecting the hard drive as an auxilary to a desktop but the only other computer I have is a laptop so that would only work if I popped open both laptops wouldn't it. What can I do?
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With that you can take any hard drive and plug it into the USB of any computer, and copy/paste some files.
Super handy, make sure that you get the power adapter to go with it if it's not included.
Is there nothing I can connect to the busted laptop that while allow me to extract harddrive files without having to take it apart? I'm a little worried about pulling the harddrive out of the laptop, is there something serious I could mess up there or will it readily re-attach?
Edit: The cable Infidel suggested will work, but then you're somewhat stuck with a harddrive just sitting around. If you get a decent enclosure, it becomes semi-portable external storage.
Generally, removing the drive just involves identifying the 'hatch' that your drive is behind. It will be on the side of your laptop, near the front, usually on the side that does not have your CD Rom. There may be a screw holding the hatch shut, and a few screws on the bottom of the laptop that are labeled with a little disk/cd looking symbol. You remove the screws, open the hatch, and generally pull the drive out by a small plastic tab. There's no little cables loose inside like the inside of a computer, they usually have a fixed socket the drive easily pops in and out of. It's hard to screw up.
Some laptops hide the drive in retarded harder to reach places, but thats mostly older models. What model is yours?
The hard drive is the easiest part to service/remove on a laptop imo. Just unscrew the cover for it and remove any screws if there are any and voila!
You can't get access to the data without removing the drive, if the laptop is cooked like you say.
If the drive is IDE, it's a different physical connector between 3.5" and 2.5". If it's SATA, they use the same connectors so it's no biggie.
No problem, the laptop is a HP dv9000 if there's anything specific you know of when dealing with one. From what I can tell it uses SATA.
Think I am going to pick up one of these...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182143
It's not the prettiest one but from what I can tell most of newegg's options are very similar feature-wise so I mine as well opt for just $9.99. (Suprisingly cheap.) It's well rated as well.
Look at the business end of the drive once you have it pulled out. Here is the difference, more or less.
I went with this one if anyone is curious.
http://www.eforcity.com/pothsata2501.html
RFD has a $2.50 off coupon for the silver one ($7.49 final) but I wanted black.
Thanks all.