Can files be retrieved from a crashed Laptop?

Question

My laptop crashed and i am wondering if there is a slim possibility to retrieve files on it, if so, how would i go about it?
This is the second time its happened and I was told it was a RAM prob, so i purchased more RAM.
I was in the middle of an application and it just froze and when i switched it off and on, it just wont go again.
Another tech said its gone, but is it really? can anything be salvaged?
i had saved some family photo's which i intended to copy onto a disk and dont have a backup of them anymore other than what was copied on the HD
Is there any way whatsoever to retrieve them?

Please help ;(

i dont have any boot disks as i moved house and they were misplaced
im basically stuck and wouldnt know where to get replacement disks ;(
im so sad

computer turns on but nothing happens (black screen)
i can manage to hit F10 to get to diagnostics but i dont understand computers other than to do a self test which tells me 'Fail'

That Sydney place is 15mins from my place =D

im running XP on laptop (or say 'was' running)
will the boot up disk actually start the laptop?

Answer 1

What os are you using? Chances are, you can salvage data from the hard drive, even if it dies. It aint cheap, but in a lot of cases can be done, so dont give up. I have boot disks for win98 (i guess they will work on xp.) If you are using xp, get a freind/colleague to creat ine from xp.. its easy enough. If not, here is how to do it from xp:

To create an MS-DOS startup disk
The MS-DOS startup disk you create will allow you to boot into MS-DOS.

Insert a floppy disk into your computer's floppy drive.
Open My Computer, and then click the floppy disk drive to select it.
On the File menu, point to the name of the floppy drive, and then click Format.
Under Format options, click Create an MS-DOS startup disk.
Click Start.
Important

Creating an MS-DOS startup disk erases all information on the floppy disk.
Notes

To open My Computer, click Start, and then click My Computer.
The MS-DOS startup disk only allows the system to boot into an MS-DOS prompt. The disk contains no additional tools

Does your machine actually do anything when its switched on?

*update*
There is this place in Sydney: http://www.datarecovery.com.au/

HTH :)



Update*

The boot disk should start your machine with a basic msdos operating system. Its worth trying it tostartwith to see if your machine is working. Its easy enough to create one, just find someone with an xp machine :)

Answer 2

There are a few things you can try:

-Remove the hard drive from the laptop and install it as a slave drive into another system (preferrably a destkop). Set up the drive and copy the files over.

-If you have a Windows XP installation disk, you can download and create an Ultimate Boot Disk by going here:
http://www.ubcd4win.com/

-If you are really desperate, you can pay varying sums of money to companies like GeekSquad to retrieve the files for you. There are 3 different levels of data loss - each one more expensive to recover. We're talking a couple hundred dollars to around $1500.00 for recovery of data. Most likely your hard drive is fine and the files are still accessible, so it shouldn't be more than a few hundred dollars.

Answer 3

that's no longer an uncomplicated technique, and while you at the instant are not techie sufficient you could choose seek for guidance. First if the subject is significant, like the indoors disks at the instant are not spinning or the pinnacle is now no longer analyzing the disk, you will could desire to deliver the stress right into a get well corporation and have the records recovered. that's costly and that they won't have the means to get what you decide on, relies upon on the subject. the finest thank you to retrieve date is to get rid of the stress from the computing gadget and get hardware to connect it as much as a distinctive workstation, utilising USB. This hardware may be gained for around $50. then you definately can plug it into the USB port on a workstation and notice if it sees it. Use a gadget with XP so which you maximum possibly won't ought to place in drivers, yet your hardware ought to comprise them. as quickly as you will discover them reproduction them to someplace you could retrieve them. For pictures I do a number of issues to dodge this, I upload them to an internet site it fairly is packed up, I positioned them on an exterior gadget, and make Cd's. this could look intense in spite of the incontrovertible fact that it could save countless heartache and money. desire this helps.

Answer 4

Yes their are ways to salvage what is on the harddrive(s).