How to rescue harddrive in broken PC?

[brian]

So I was cleaning the computer desk and accidentally knocked the business PC off the desk. Landed on a corner, metal deformed - switching on I get a series of beeps and it won't go on.

Sounds seriously knackered to me so my priority now is to rescue my data off the hard drive.

I've taken the side off and identified the harddrive but not removed it as yet.

Big question is - how do I connect the harddrive from the broken PC to another (ie, this laptop) in order to transfer the data?

Any responses much appreciated.

[FlyerUK]

Originally Posted by brian

So I was cleaning the computer desk and accidentally knocked the business PC off the desk. Landed on a corner, metal deformed - switching on I get a series of beeps and it won't go on.

Sounds seriously knackered to me so my priority now is to rescue my data off the hard drive.

I've taken the side off and identified the harddrive but not removed it as yet.

Big question is - how do I connect the harddrive from the broken PC to another (ie, this laptop) in order to transfer the data?

Any responses much appreciated.

Put it into an external enclosure, they cost very little these days, you can get sata to usb from Maplins for around £15. Doddle to fit, then just plug it into the laptop to recover the data, assuming of course the disk itself isn't fooked
You need to check wether the drive is sata or ide and procur the correct enclosure.

[madrat]

you will also have to change the drive setting from master to slave.

[brian]

Excellent - got the 3.5 inch enclosure.

@madrat, how do I designate master vs slave, please?

The harddrive is in the enclosure, but the laptop isn't picking it up as one, though the data recovery utility can read it.

[FlyerUK]

Originally Posted by madrat

you will also have to change the drive setting from master to slave.

if its a sata drive, it won't have master/slave settings

[unadkat]

With enclosures your very restricted with devices.. I.e if its an enclosure that only hold s a 2.5 inch sata drive then u can only use it for that. certain enclosures only allow up to 500GB hDD to be installed.

Brian I would suggest that you get one of these mate:

USB 2.0 to SATA IDE Hard Drive Cable Adaptor Converter on eBay (end time 25-Mar-11 22:09:22 GMT)


They are very useful and handy in all suituations as they can convert any Internal 3.5 inch IDE / sata into an external and same with the ROM drives ( dvd writers etc )

This also works with laptop drives (2.5inch IDE / SATA)

In regards to changing jumper settings, its easy mate on all IDE / PATA drives its labelled on the drive.

kind regards
unadkat

[Flowerpot]

Actually the beeps are probably telling you that the memory has been dislodged or something similar!! You may find opening the box up and pressing the modules back in place would allow the PC to boot properly. As you would have to open it up to remove the drive I'd take the time to check all cables, etc b4 removing the HDD as usually a knacked PC won't do anything at all.

[Dazza2008]

seems silly but have you checked the ram as pc's beep if you knocked it out of line

external buddy

[Flowerpot]

Originally Posted by Dazza2008

seems silly but have you checked the ram as pc's beep if you knocked it out of line

external buddy

Isn't that what I said?