How can I retrieve hard drive data from a laptop with a damaged motherboard?

Question

The motherboard of my old laptop (a Compaq) broke resulting in the laptop not being able to boot.

I have a new HP Laptop but would like to be able to retrieve a number of files and jpegs etc. if possible; does anyone know how?? Would appreciate any advice

Answer 1

Take the hard drive out of the laptop, and using a screwdriver, remove the special IDE connector that laptop manufacturers put on their laptops. If you're lucky, you might be able to swap it with your new HP laptop, but I doubt it. Windows XP has a funny way of not booting on other computers. In this case you might have to buy a laptop to desktop IDE cable and use a desktop computer to recover the data.

Answer 2

The data is stored in the hard drive. I hope it is not damaged. So remove the hard drive from the old computer and connect it to the new computer as a secondary hard drive. Then you can access the data in your your new computer. There may be many reasons for this problem. I can give you a link that deals with hard drive problems. Some RAM/hard drive problems can be easily fixed yourself by using easily available tools. I found the info at http://fixit.in useful

Answer 3

This will only work with a desktop.
Use another hard drive, and install Windows on it. Hook the laptop to the computer with a wire that'll link to a USB port on another computer to access files. Get the files off onto the other hard drive. I'm sorry, but I don't know where you could get the wire.

Answer 4

Yes just get a USB External 2.5" IDE Drive Adapter, then plug it into the usb port and after the system adds it as another drive browse to your hearts content. Costs about 25 - 35 dollars

Answer 5

hi n1vet, golly the wear and tear and tear on your device would properly be everywhere like the position do you initiate at the starting up in case you're taking that damaged perplexing stress out and installation it into yet another device and damage that new one too. now you may want to take it to a pc repairman and word if he can grant you with an concept to what the damge is it would properly be some thing from a motherboard or an uncomplicated short. so till now you're making a judgement you favor to understand what the damge is shall we wager all day lengthy yet till you already know what the wear and tear and tear is how can we inform you your concepts. if he needs to chance an old device to work out if he can get your perplexing stress out to attempt it they construct them so he can discover out and by no skill lose no longer some thing. strong success wish i develop into efficient to you

Answer 6

The easiest way is to get yourself a enclosure kit for 2.5" notebook hard drive. So that you can use it as an external hard drive via USB. It can be used to store some data.

Enclosure Kit for 2.5" Notebook Hard Drive http://www.bixnet.com/usbporenfor2.html

Answer 7

Yes, install that hard drive into a working computer. You will be able to access and burn the files to a CD.

Answer 8

... get a simple cheapo adapter and pull the hd out and plug it into a desktop pc in the middle of an ide cable as a slave.... you may possibly have to enter the desktops bios settup and manually enter the harddrive parameters that are on the label .. but thats no biggy

http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=906&sku=17705

Answer 9

stick the old HD into the new laptop or bring the 2 to a expert shop

Answer 10

Pull the hard drive out, get a 2.5" to 3.5" IDE adapter and stick it in your desktop. Then drag and drop or burn to disk.