What do I do to get my files back when my hard drive crashes?

Question

I just want to know, just in case it happens to me.

Answer 1

it depends on where you backed them up.
- back up to dvd, or cdr, then you use that program to do a restore
- backup to another place on the same hard drive, use that same program to do a restore AFTER you have reloaded windows.
- manufacturers recovery options (when you booth the pc, you may have recovery options built onto the hard drive)
- usb or external drive - restore with the software you put the files there with

Answer 2

It depends if you have restore on also when was the last check point. Allot of times what I do is take another hard drive and Load it with an operating system and utilities.You can install the new one as a master and the crashed one as a slave .Or Install it as a slave and Go into bio and switch boot priority you should be able to access most your files that way you can also repair you other drive with the write soft ware programs. What matters hear is How vital is the information your trying to get and the amount of time it take to get it.
But this only matters what caused your crash and if is a wicked virus Like bios one . That just happen to me because of no firewall it crash and at boot it wood freeze before it would finish checking all the hardware.All i did was disconnect power and pull my cmos battery and reset back to default If freeze after it checks your hardware while window is booting it a boot virus . But if it boot and show no operating system check your drive connection then reboot if your hard drive do sent show in bios the you might have to replace it

Answer 3

One way is connect this harddrive to another PC, boot from that other PC. The drives in your crashed hard drive should show up in My Computer of the PC, then just copy the files you want to your working PC.

Another way is get the Operating System Installation CD, boot from the CD and while installation, select the option for repairing your previous installation. Dont install fresh instalation, you will loose data in your C Drive. Be careful and just select repair the current system. Usually it works.

Another way is try to boot in Safe Mode(F8) , if it works once you get into your operating system, set the Restore Point to your previous working condition(You have restore point only in Windows XP I guess).

Hope this helps.
Saikiran

Answer 4

# 1. You can try doing a system restore. Restore your computer to an earlier period of time. But it all depends on the kind of crash you have. Sometimes "Worst case Senario" Your entire hard drive will be rendered completely useless.

# 2. Burn anything and everything you want to save to Blank CD/DVD Roms. This way if your computer becomes completely cached. You'll still have your stuff for when you have your computer fixed. Hope that helps.

Answer 5

Always have a back up hard drive where you can store important file and documents. Never just rely on using a cd or floppy,

Answer 6

BACK UP YOUR FILES. NOW. There is no guarantee you can get them back if your hard drive crashes. Best to have copies of everything stored on disks or memory sticks..

Answer 7

It really all depends on what happens to the hard drive.

If it is a Physical malfunction, which happens occasionally, your chances of recovering data are slim to none.

You need to make sure that you have backups on CD or DVD so that if it is a physical malfunction, you have backups of the important stuff.

Answer 8

well if ure worried back up your stuff to CD or DVD

Answer 9

Keep copies .... you cannot always rely on technology!

Answer 10

you should have a system restore option