How can I recover files from my broken hard drive?

Question

My computer wouldn't boot because my hard drive failed. HP diags said the memory was alright, but the DST or something failed. I bought/installed a new one and I'm good to go. But, is there any way I can get the old files from my personal folder off of it, and onto my new one? Some USB-type thing I can use to plug it in? It's all I really want.

And I know... I'm supposed to do back-up. I'm an idiot.

Answer 1

Since you've already bought and installed a new hard drive, using a LiveCD of Linux or even a WinPE won't do you much good, since the hard drive you want to recovery files from isn't even in the laptop any more.



The problem is with how the drive has failed. If it won't spin up, or you can't read data off the drive, then your only option is an expensive one, since the drive must be sent to a data recovery center where it can be taken apart in a "Clean Room" and the platens put into a different chassis. That isn't something you can do reliably on your own.



If the drive still spins up, you MIGHT be able to recover data from the drive with a USB to Sata or USB to IDE converter... but it would stink if you spent $25 to $50 for one of these things, only to find out that the drive is dead.



So, here is what you *can* do that won't cost too much money. You didn't say whether your drive was an IDE or a SATA type drive... so here is one of each...

IDE http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817145082

SATA http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817388019



Take a look at those... and you can (and should) poke around your favorite online retailers for ones that are cheaper. Buy the one that is made for your type of drive, install your drive in it, and plug it into the laptop. If the mechanics of the drive are OK, you should be able to retrieve your Data. you *might* have to run CHKDSK on it in case the data has been corrupted. But be prepared for not being able to get any data from the drive if the drive is dead. Not unless you want to ship the drive off to a Recovery Service and pay between $400 and $1000 for the job.



end of line

Answer 2

Fajner's answer is a good one. A live Linux CD will work for what you need to do.



If you'd rather a USB solution than a cable like this one will give you access to the HD. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812232002



One note: It depends on what the problem with the HD was whether or not you will get access to your files. If it was a true mechanical failure the drive won't be accessible. If there was just some corruption than you may very well be able to access the files.



EDIT:



Your symptoms indicate a software problem on the original HD not a mechanical failure so data recovery is very possible.



Try, downloading PartedMagic ISO (150mb) http://sourceforge.net/projects/partedmagic/

Download and install Imgburn http://majorgeeks.com/ImgBurn_d4870.html

Start imgburn and use the "Write Image File to Disc" option to burn the ISO you just downloaded to a blank CD/DVD. So for file/source browse to your ISO and then click the double icon at the bottom of the window to begin burning.



Put the original HD in the computer and the disc in the tray. Boot from the PartedMagic CD you just wrote. Go with defaults to start P/M so just hit enter when given choices.



Now in Parted Magic click the My Documents icon on the desktop and you will see in the left pane of the window your HD partitions C: etc. Click the C: drive and you should find the files you want to recover. You can recover them to USB thumb drive or external HD.



***If this is a desktop and you have an unused SATA connection you should be able to add your old HD back without removing the new one and still boot from the CD but copy your file from the old HD to the new one. (The partition letters will be different so the files you want will probably not be on C:)

Answer 3

There is an easy way to do this. First you need a live-CD. Most live-CDs are Linux systems. Let's use the Ubuntu one:



http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download



Burn the *.iso file to a CD. Now, boot your computer from that CD. A screen will pop up (after loading a few minutes) asking whether you want to try Ubuntu out or install it. Click "Try it out" (or something like that). It might load for a little while. Now, you'll be in the Ubuntu desktop. In the Menu Bar in the upper left corner, select "Places" and then your hard disk. Now, just copy your files to the second hard disk or a USB or something.

Answer 4

Hi,

I recovered most of my deleted files and data from pc and other devices with wondershare data recovery. You can get it fro free here http://bit.ly/1qaI154

It's surely the leader program of its type

Have a nice day

Answer 5

If all else fails there are outfits that specialize in retrieving data from failed hard drives. Keep in mind their services are very expensive so if the data isn't all that important chalk it up to experience.

Answer 6

I don't consider this is correct

Answer 7

This is a good program