Hard drive packed in

[scorpious321]

hi my hard drive has packed up on my old computer I would like to no if there is anyway to get my files and photos from it

[LeMarchand]

Assuming that the drive isn't totally fried, you can take it out of your machine and either mount it as a slave in another computer or externally using a caddy or lead (generally needs to be set as master for the latter options). Caddies/leads can be bought from eBay for under a tenner, but make sure you get one that fits the size and type of drive you need to mount.

Of course, if the drive isn't even spinning none of the above methods will work. Data recovery is still possible, but it ain't cheap!

What's wrong with the original computer? Is it deffo beyond repair?

[scorpious321]

hi LeMarchand my boys has told me it is something to do with the booting up of the hard drive

[fo3nix]

My suggestion.

Download Knoppix CD (google it). Burn the file you download to a CD (with someone else's computer).

Then put that CD into your computer with the dodgy hard drive. If it isn't already set so, change the BIOS so that it tries to boot from CD before hard drive (may well do this automatically, just make sure you have the CD in the drive, then press reset to start the computer again, with CD in from beginning).

Now the computer should boot into Knoppix directly from the CD. Now attach an external hard drive or flash drive via USB, and hopefully you can read both this drive and your bad internal drive. If so, copy all the files across that you possibly can.

[LeMarchand]

That covers a lot of possible faults!

I would try to get the photos (and any other precious data) off the drive first, but - depending on the symptoms - wouldn't totally give up on the machine yet.

When you turn your computer on, what happens? Does it start up at all? Do you have any recovery or Windows discs? If you tap the F8 key during boot, can you get into "safe mode"?

The hard drive could well be shot, but it could all sorts of things including: a loose connector, corrupt boot sector, or virus (or many more). If you post the exact symptoms on here, someone may be able to help.

[LeMarchand]

P.S. fo3nix's Knoppix suggestion is easier than my external mount one. I already have the leads and tend to carry them around with my tools, and have had more success doing things that way than with Knoppix. (Though in theory it should make no difference).

The thoughts about trying to get your machine running still stand, unless it's very old and you want a new one anyway!

[ACtheTROLL]

fo ... after all you said about knoppix! ;-)

fo's suggection is spot on for recovery ....
but it depends what's happening

from what yous lads say it could possibly be fixed
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/483/xp_repair_f ix_master_boot_record_recovery_console

if not ... it's worth trying a reformat and reinstall - but only once you've rescued all your stuff!!