My laptop passed away.

[warrior queen]

Unfortunately, it chose a very inconvenient time to do so - I was in the middle of doing a backup to an external hd.
Now of course, I have a dead laptop but no data saved.
If I take it to a tech, can they get my data off it for me?
How difficult is it to do?

 

[islandman]

Rip out the hard drive, buy an external HDD enclosure and plug hard drive into it, plug enclosure into another computer via USB cable, use it as an external HDD. Data saved courtesy of Islandman.

You're welcome.

 

[KRCummings]

Rip out the hard drive, buy an external HDD enclosure and plug hard drive into it, plug enclosure into another computer via USB cable, use it as an external HDD. Data saved courtesy of Islandman.

You're welcome.

This.

As long as the HD is ok then it's relatively easy to get the data.

 

[warrior queen]

So I can do this myself?
What is a hard drive enclosure? Is that like an external or is it an internal?

 

[about_average]

What died? If it was the laptop and not the HD then you can do it yourself if you have another computer. Just get an external HD case for 10-15$. Just make sure whether your laptop drive is IDE are SATA so you get the right case.
There will be drive model number on the HD label. You can look it up to see which it is.

I have an SIIG that supports both and is USB3 (backward compatible).
This one:
http://www.siig.com/it-products/con.../usb-3-0-to-ide-sata-6gb-s-2-5-enclosure.html
Street price is about $25 but I wanted one that would support both interfaces.

If it's the HD that's dead yes, data can be recovered from it, but it's not cheap.

 

[KRCummings]

So I can do this myself?
What is a hard drive enclosure? Is that like an external or is it an internal?

Try re-reading his post.

 

[warrior queen]

All my course notes are on this laptop, and I am doing my prac exam in a little over a month, so it's kinda important.

 

[islandman]

So I can do this myself?
What is a hard drive enclosure? Is that like an external or is it an internal?

I don't know how technically inclined you are, though there are youtube vids on how to do it.

Once removed, take it to your local electronics store and tell them you'd like a hard drive enclosure for it.

It's external. The hard drive goes into it. It plugs into another computer via USB.

 

[warrior queen]

Try re-reading his post.

I've never heard the term 'hard drive enclosure'.

Ok, reading about_average's post, I'm understanding. It's a case to house the drive.

 

[kbate]

Once removed, take it to your local electronics store and tell them you'd like a hard drive enclosure for it.

She's in Australia, they'll probably hand her a toolbox or sell her a garage.

 

[warrior queen]

I don't know how technically inclined you are, though there are youtube vids on how to do it.

Once removed, take it to your local electronics store and tell them you'd like a hard drive enclosure for it.

It's external. The hard drive goes into it. It plugs into another computer via USB.

My 19yr old sone is techie enough to be able to do this if I get the enclosure thingy.
I'm pretty sure the hd is ok.... It's the screen that bugged out on me. It pixillated, then started flashing on and off, then just went black. When I tried restarting, all the indicator lights came on in the correct order, but the screen stayed black.
The laptop is 4 yrs old, so not worth repairing.

 

[Deleted member 1405174]

Google it. You cand find out how to do anything on the internet. I am 100% self-taught when it comes to anything computer.

 

[warrior queen]

She's in Australia, they'll probably hand her a toolbox or sell her a garage.

Haha... I actually have my own toolbox here! I bought pink tools, to stop the boys from stealing them! (They never put things back, drives me nuts.)

 

[piccicatopolka]

In Cali a small private computer repair shop will charge you anywhere from $60. to $135. to retrieve that data. Its usually accessible but not always depending on where the fry occurred. Too bad it was right when you were wise enough to do a backup.

 

[warrior queen]

In Cali a small private computer repair shop will charge you anywhere from $60. to $135. to retrieve that data. Its usually accessible but not always depending on where the fry occurred. Too bad it was right when you were wise enough to do a backup.

I got the email from my course manager telling me I made the grade and could do my exam. Then I thought I should probably do a backup as I hadn't done so for 2 months, and the rest is history

 

[about_average]

The laptop is 4 yrs old, so not worth repairing.

It depends. If it's just the screen you can pick up used ones, or even new old stock, pretty cheap on ebay.

I just repaired my circa 2001 Thinkpad 600x that had a dead screen.

 

[about_average]

I got the email from my course manager telling me I made the grade and could do my exam. Then I thought I should probably do a backup as I hadn't done so for 2 months, and the rest is history

For things like that a thumb drive is cheap insurance.
Plug it in and set your word processor (or whatever you're using) options to save backup copies to it every 5 min. Worst case you loose 5 minutes of work.

 

[warrior queen]

It depends. If it's just the screen you can pick up used ones, or even new old stock, pretty cheap on ebay.

I just repaired my circa 2001 Thinkpad 600x that had a dead screen.

If I can retrieve the data, then I'll just load it onto a new one.
They're cheap enough these days... loving the AUD$ exchange rate atm!

 

[warrior queen]

For things like that a thumb drive is cheap insurance.
Plug it in and set your word processor (or whatever you're using) options to save backup copies to it every 5 min. Worst case you loose 5 minutes of work.

Yeah, no1son kinda ranted at me that I should have been doing something like that.
Lesson learned!

 

[islandman]

Let me help once more....

"Thanks, Islandman"

 

[QueenLevitra]

So I can do this myself?
What is a hard drive enclosure? Is that like an external or is it an internal?

Whip out the tinsnips.

Life will roll as usual.

 

[QueenLevitra]

Let me help once more....

"Thanks, Islandman"

You really thought....

 

[warrior queen]

Let me help once more....

"Thanks, Islandman"

Lol - thanx, islandman

I hadn't forgotten.... the electricity glitched here and I had to go down to the bottom shed to reset the electric fence.

 

[girlsmiley]

She's in Australia, they'll probably hand her a toolbox or sell her a garage.

That reminds me. Try buying a 'garage' in Balmain.

"IT may have million-dollar views of Sydney Harbour but this unique Balmain East property sold for just $210,000 at auction.

The tiny 13sq m storeroom in Pearson St also comes with four carparking spaces, a bathroom, storage and balcony with stunning views of the city.

The only catch is it cannot be used as a residence"