I have a malfunctioned hard drive that will not allow Windows to boot. My question is this-since i cannot boot Windows from the hard drive, would it be possible to install this hard drive in a functioning computer and retrieve essential files on the malfunctioning drive? I need to rescue priceless family photos, among other things. If this is possible, will i need to connect anything other than the one ribbon from the hard drive to the motherboard? (leave the rainbow colored wires alone?) When I try to boot up now, even in safe mode, I receive an error message saying that one of the files being booted, maybe the sixth or seventh, is missing or corrupt. It tells me to try restore from the recovery disk, which I have tried, but when prompted for a command, i am not sure which one to go with (have tried bootcfg, fixmbr, among others) Please, any advice would be greatly, dearly appreciated. I cannot let over 10 gigs of family photos compiled for over more than 10 years disappear. Thanks.
2007-07-23 17:19:54 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
If you wqant the simplest way to extract the files, fit the hard drive into a USB caddy to save opening a 2nd machine, connect it, and you should be able to read it, assuming the disc is in FAT32 format. If NTFS and the files were under a "Windows rpotected" folder it might be a bit more tricky.
Also put the error message into google (or the main part) like "file xxxx.xx weas missing/corrupt) and it will often give you a elink to a walkthrough fix. I had to do it fir a friend recently, got it back, NO data loss.
2007-07-23 17:28:45 · answer #1 · answered by stu_the_kilted_scot 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your external hard drive should show as an icon on your screen. Simply drag and drop everything you want on that drive. If you want to clear space on your machine's hard drive then don't forget to delete whatever you move onto the Lacie once you have checked that it has transferred successfully. If you want to start putting stuff directly on the Lacie then just specify it as the destination whenever you save something. You have a massive amount of capacity as it stands and I am unsure why you want to move stuff onto the Lacie, unless it is for reasons of backup, which is obviously a good idea. It's a shame you are not on a Mac, as you would then have, on Leopard, the fabulous Time Machine facility which will mean never losing anything ever again. If you don't think you are much good at computers make your next one a Mac - they are simpler, smarter, and cooler than a PC, and much easier to use. Vista is where Mac was about ten years ago.
2016-05-17 04:49:53 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On another computer you would install this a the second (slave)drive, this is not very hard to do.
this link will give you an idea of how to do it
http://www.infohq.com/Computer/adding-second-hard-drive-review.htm
Do NOT listen to the person who is telling you you need to partition the drive, the system canot become confused this way it has been told to boot off the primary drive and will do so, it will also say new hardware detected if the drive is readable at all
2007-07-23 17:32:08 · answer #3 · answered by DOUGLAS M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Normally windows does not boot due to corrupt MBR Master Boot Record. In 99% cases this happens. If this is the case than data can be recovered by attaching it to a functioning PC as secondry drive. First you will have to Format the primary partition other wise system will get confused due to two OS on same system. If their is physical damage, crashed platter broken spindle than this is unrepairable if the PCB on back of HDD than that can be replaced.
2007-07-23 17:32:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't run the recovery disk! The recovery disk will wipe your drive and return it to factory settings. Try slaving the drive or even the external case method. If it detects and assigns the drive a letter you're in business if it doesn't detect then your hard drive has a hardware failure. Take it to a data recovery company and get a free diagnostic done. I've had good luck with CBL data recovery. http://www.cbltech.com
2007-07-24 07:58:15 · answer #5 · answered by JT_8 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use a live CD like Knoppix which doesnt install but runs from a CD drive itself.YOu can browse your drives and copy those stuff you want to an external USB drive.Absolutely simple,isnt it?
If your partition is NTFS,i am not sure if Knoppix has the drivers.THen you can try Ultimate Boot CD which is also a Live CD.
2007-07-23 17:26:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If all fails and you remove the drive than buy and external USB enclosure and plug it on another pc you should be able to recover all data from the drive good luck. Do not format your drive for you will erase all data. Remove it buy and external enclosure to put the drive it and plug it your in. here is an idea of one price is high but some are less money at local stores. good luck.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817145656
chelo
2007-07-23 17:35:53 · answer #7 · answered by chelo R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should be able to install the HDD as a slave drive in a different computer and once the BIOS recognizes it, you should be able to open up and save any files on it. This will work providing the HDD still runs.
2007-07-23 17:24:30 · answer #8 · answered by dlpallo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hook it up in a working comp as a slave drive and let the regular hard drive boot. this will allow you to get the data off the broken hard drive
2007-07-23 17:29:26 · answer #9 · answered by B Scanz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can plug it into a new computer (you must connect the 4 pin power cable and the ribbon cable)
then look for you pictures and save them, i hope you are able to get your files back
2007-07-23 17:25:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋