How to Recover Data from the Hard Drive of a Dead Laptop
When a computer dies due to a software failure rather than a hardware problem, its files remain inaccessible but intact on the hard drive. We will teach you how to recover data from the hard drive of a laptop that has died. You can transfer it to a working computer or an an external hard drive.
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Using Your Old Hard Drive as an External Hard Drive (Windows, Mac, Linux)
How to Recover Data from the Hard Drive of a Dead Laptop
A Linux computer will be able to read files off of a Windows computer (but not the other way around); unless you understand both systems, however, it is best to use a Windows computer to recover a Windows hard drive.
Mac computers can read hard drives formatted for Windows default NTFS files system, but they cannot write or transfer files to a NTFS hard drive. Hard drives formatted for Mac’s HFS file system can only be read by another Mac computer.
How to Recover Data from the Hard Drive of a Dead Laptop
If the hard drive isn’t recognized at first, try ejecting it and plugging it back in. If the hard drive is not readable, it’s likely that the hard drive itself (and not your computer’s software) failed. If this is the case, you will need professional assistance if you wish to continue the salvage. Be warned that this can be very expensive.
How to Recover Data from the Hard Drive of a Dead Laptop
If you have an IDE hard drive, note that there is a detachable adapter sitting over the interface. Simply pull this adapter off so that the drive will properly connect with the enclosure’s connector plate.Some laptop models may require special tools to open and/or remove the hard drive. Check the label on the bottom of your laptop to get the exact model number for your laptop and then search for “How to remove a hard drive from a [brand and model] laptop. You should find official an users manual and possibly a YouTube video showing exactly how to open your computer model. In some cases, you may need to take it to a professional
Connecting Your Old Hard Drive into a Desktop Computer (Windows, Linux)
If your laptop has an IDE hard drive, note that there is a detachable adapter sitting over the hard drive interface. Simply pull this adapter off so that the interface is accessible later.
Some laptop models may require special tools to open and/or remove the hard drive. Check the label on the bottom of the laptop to see the exact make and model of your laptop and search for, “How to remove the hard drive for a [make and model number] laptop.” You should find a user’s manual and possibly a YouTube video with step-by-step instructions on how to take apart your laptop. In some cases, you may need to take it to a professional.
You can move a working hard drive from one computer to another. If the hard drive from the dead laptop is physically functional, take the drive out and plug it into a functional computer that already has its own operating system. If it doesn’t boot, try copying the files. If the boot sector is broken, you can try rebuilding the drive.
Warning: Be sure to touch something made of metal to ground yourself or wear anti-static wrist bands while working inside of a computer. Static electricity can permanently damage your computer. Keep any and all computer parts off the carpet.
Configure your desktop to recognize the new drive. Plug your desktop back in, power it on, and open BIOS. Go to Standard CMOS Settings or IDE Config, where you will find four settings involving master and slave settings. Change all four fields to auto-detection. The BIOS Settings and menus may be different from one computer model to another. Exit BIOS and reboot. Your desktop should now automatically detect the new hardware.
Accessing Your Old Files through Another Computer (Mac Only)
Note: You can connect a second external hard drive up to the working Mac and simply use the Mac to transfer files from the old hard drive to the new one.
- Turn on your computer as normal.
- Click the Apple icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
- Click System Preferences
- Click Startup Disk
- Click Target Disk Mode.
Reboot your computer to start it in Target Disk Mode.