Dead Laptop Hard Drive

[Rudy]

Hey guys,
someone brought their laptop to me tonight to try and fix it for them. She's writing her senior thesis paper and lost it on the laptop.

The first thing I did (after turning it on, seeing that it wouldn't recognize the HD) was re-seat it. That didn't work. So I pulled out the HD and stuck it into my own laptop.

My own bios won't recognize the drive.

She got a Windows Blue Screen when it crashed (she was just doing normal stuff) and when she restarted, the drive isn't recognized.

Is it even worth it for me to try and hook it into a desktop computer and try to access it and get files off of it?

I'm 99.9999% sure that this drive is dead as a doorknob. This is her 3rd hard drive in less than a year, so I'm a bit surprised that she didn't backup any of her data... It stinks that she'll have to start her senior paper from scratch again. Hopefully she has an old copy laying around in email or something.

Anyway, any other suggestions? I thought about using the Linux version of the Ultimate Boot Disk, but since the drive isn't even being recognized by her (or my) laptop, I don't think that would do any good.

 

[weblord]

what brand of hard drive?

 

[Rudy]

I can't speak for the original (or the one that replaced that), but this THIRD HD doesn't have much identifying information on it. It looks like a generic drive without any labels on it except "CompUSA" (which is a computer store here in the States).

The laptop is an HP, and the Hard Drive is a standard laptop HD.

 

[weblord]

if it's still new is it covered by warranty?
http://www.compusa.com/

 

[liquidcherry]

Hey rudy,

I wouldn't give up yet, sometimes it could be recognized if you put a jumper on it and connect it to your desktop(but you would need an adapter for it)

Cheers

Frank

 

[AndyR]

Does the drive spin up on booting (drive activity light)?

It is probably firmware or electronics on the board and another board may fix it however this would cost the same as a new drive if you could get one.

A third hard drive sounds like a recurring problem. Get a good quality replacement and a similar USB drive for backing it up. You could try connecting to the old drive via USB when you have a working windows system again.

andy

 

[OctaneInv]

Use a KNOPPIX disk to boot it, and see if it will mount. I'll see if I can find a link to a how to.

Ok, I posted this to a blog project I'm making. If you have any questions, let me know. This post is a bit vague as to the exact instructions, but the info and story is there! See the links at the bottom for the download.

http://www.openhacking.com/2008/10/...-source-software-saved-windows-and-my-laptop/

 

[Bill]

Connecting the hard drive to your computer will probably not work. If it does, you can use a free software called Recuva:

http://filehippo.com/download_recuva/

If you really want the files and are willing to pay, Seagate offers a data recovery service. They take apart the hard disk and rebuild it piece by piece. The only downside is that it costs $1500.

-Bill

 

[Rudy]

Hey thanks for all the posts guys. I'm aware of just about everything you've mentioned... I just wanted to get some opinions about whether I should pursue this any further. I'll try connecting it to a desktop - I've got an adapter (although I don't think that will work).

Bill, that's a steep price! I know of a place out in St. Louis that does recovery for about $1,000. Regardless, the data is not THAT important. Plus, the owner of this computer is a senior at a VERY expensive college. Like me. Enough said.

My thoughts are, since this is the 3rd drive, that there's something up on the computer, perhaps maybe too much power coming out of the power supply.

Anyway, thanks a ton for all the suggestions.

 

[enlytend]

Use a KNOPPIX disk to boot it, and see if it will mount. I'll see if I can find a link to a how to.

Knoppix (or any other live boot linux CD) is a lifesaver for Windows problems, but this sounds like a hardware issue.

Going through 3 hard drives in less than 1 year = not good! Best of luck to you/her in getting her data back.

 

[AndyR]

Knoppix (or any other live boot linux CD) is a lifesaver for Windows problems, but this sounds like a hardware issue.

Going through 3 hard drives in less than 1 year = not good! Best of luck to you/her in getting her data back.

Yeah could be a laptop not a hard drive is required.

Re. college, petition them for network secure storage for seniors. They must have a network?

 

[bidawinner]

Rudy to revive the drive this should do it http://virtuallyshocking.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/CepBasicsPresentation.004-001.png

Good Luck !

 

[Rudy]

Yeah could be a laptop not a hard drive is required.

Re. college, petition them for network secure storage for seniors. They must have a network?

Oh, we have a robust network here, and every student has their own storage space. Wireless is just about on every portion of the campus too. Fact is, not many students use it.

The network storage is actually accessible via off campus too.

(I work in the Technology Services department here at the school...)

I agree that this sounds like a hardware issue. Thanks for all the suggestions, guys!

 

[liquidcherry]

Rudy to revive the drive this should do it http://virtuallyshocking.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/CepBasicsPresentation.004-001.png

Good Luck !

LOL, that was classic!!
:hehe:

Cheers

Frank

 

[midnight251]

Hey Rudy, check this out. I've never tried this, but know people that have. Usually on a desktop hd, but if the drive is toast anyway, might be a last resort.

http://geeksaresexy.blogspot.com/2006/01/freeze-your-hard-drive-to-recover-data.html