Q. I managed to spill iced tea all over my laptops keyboard the other day, but I pulled the battery out before anything short circuited. How can I get the data from my hard drive without turning the laptop on? Can I take out the hard drive and connect it to another computer? Thanks.
A. There are a couple of fairly easy methods but they require a certain degree of technical savy and the ability to follow instructions. This said--probably the easiest solution is the use a "Hard Drive Enclosure", Simply place the affected hard drive inside then connect to USB of another computer. This will allow the hard drive to be seen as a "mass storage device" and files can be accessed,
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Hard+Drive+Enclosure
If you are using Windows--you will need third party software although if you are willing to use a version of Linux--there will be no need to purchase special data recovery software. Puppy Linux is often used by Amateurs and Pros alike to retrieve data from hard drives. I will give the basic instructions and locations to accomplish this task.
#1. Acquire the ISO of Puppy Linux--Go here ----> http://www.puppylinux.com/
#2. After you have downloaded the file it has to be burned to a disc. I think Windows 7 can do this but XP and Vista will need a special program outside of the Installed CD burner. Below is a link to a Good Free Utility that will do such.
http://download.cnet.com/PowerISO/3000-2646_4-10439118.html?tag=dropDownForm;productListing;pop
#3. Once the Raw Image of Puppy is burned to a disc. You are ready to recover the data. However YOU WILL NEED TO ALLOW PUPPY LINUX TO BOOT YOUR COMPUTER. Most likely the computer is set to start from Hard Drive. You can manually change the Boot Order to allow it to start from CD/DVD Drive.
#4. While your computer is running Place Puppy Linux in the Optical(Disc) Drive then Restart..Select Start from Disc Drive in the Start Up Options(BIOS). Then Reboot a 2nd time. Puppy will Boot the Computer.
#5. Select "Drives" from Puppy's Desktop Options/Icons and it will display the connected Hard Drive. Double Click and you can begin copying files from it to a flash drive or other external source that is connected.
Good Luck.
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Hard+Drive+Enclosure
If you are using Windows--you will need third party software although if you are willing to use a version of Linux--there will be no need to purchase special data recovery software. Puppy Linux is often used by Amateurs and Pros alike to retrieve data from hard drives. I will give the basic instructions and locations to accomplish this task.
#1. Acquire the ISO of Puppy Linux--Go here ----> http://www.puppylinux.com/
#2. After you have downloaded the file it has to be burned to a disc. I think Windows 7 can do this but XP and Vista will need a special program outside of the Installed CD burner. Below is a link to a Good Free Utility that will do such.
http://download.cnet.com/PowerISO/3000-2646_4-10439118.html?tag=dropDownForm;productListing;pop
#3. Once the Raw Image of Puppy is burned to a disc. You are ready to recover the data. However YOU WILL NEED TO ALLOW PUPPY LINUX TO BOOT YOUR COMPUTER. Most likely the computer is set to start from Hard Drive. You can manually change the Boot Order to allow it to start from CD/DVD Drive.
#4. While your computer is running Place Puppy Linux in the Optical(Disc) Drive then Restart..Select Start from Disc Drive in the Start Up Options(BIOS). Then Reboot a 2nd time. Puppy will Boot the Computer.
#5. Select "Drives" from Puppy's Desktop Options/Icons and it will display the connected Hard Drive. Double Click and you can begin copying files from it to a flash drive or other external source that is connected.
Good Luck.
How can I securely erase everything from my external hard drive before selling it?
Q. What is the best software to use for my external hard drive as this drive was used for accounts and accountancy documents.
A. If you would like to erase and wipe all information from your hard drive, I reccommend you use Active@ KillDisk. This powerful and compact DOS software allows you to destroy all data on hard and floppy drives completely, excluding any possibility of future recovery of deleted files and folders. This is security software for unrecoverable data elimination for any computer capable of booting in DOS mode from floppy drive. It uses access to the drive's data on a physical level via BIOS bypassing logical drive structure organization, thus it does not matter operating systems and file systems located on the machine, it can be DOS, Windows 95 / 98, Windows NT / 2000 / XP, Linux, Unix for PC. Active@ KillDisk conforms to US Department of Defense clearing and sanitizing standard DoD 5220.22-M. You can be sure that once you clean up with Active@ KillDisk, sensitive information is purged out forever. We highly recommend you to run this FREE utility for the hard and floppy drives you want to dispose of, recycle, re-use, sell or donate to somebody.
Please note: If the CIA or FBI is after you, destroy the hard drive. It is possible to recover data even if it has been erased and written over many times.
Please note: If the CIA or FBI is after you, destroy the hard drive. It is possible to recover data even if it has been erased and written over many times.
How can I retrive information safely off of a hard drive from a crashed computer?
Q. A Little while ago my Emachines T2642 crashed. Im only interested in knowing how to collect data from its undamaged hard drive. Please Help
A. The hard drive has the shortest life expectancy of all components, but when it inevitably fails it's always when you least expect it.
It's an inevitability, and it always happens when you're least prepared - the hard drive crash. Sure, you might notice it's taking a bit longer to boot, or there's an occasional click that just doesn't sound right, but it's still a surprise the day your computer fails to boot.
How do you get your data off that hard drive once it's no longer able to boot? Is it still possible? This depends on what exactly went wrong with your drive. It is safe to assume, however, that will the proper method, you will be able to retrieve at least part of your lost data.
Below are five different methods for getting documents, pictures, and other important files off a crashed hard drive.
1. Use an External Case
This method is the most simple available, and for many people it is also the solution they need. Simply purchase an external hard drive case that allows you to plug your hard drive into a computer with a standard USB cable. Remove the crashed hard drive from your computer and carefully insert it into the external case (make sure you ground yourself before touching it), then plug it into a different system and try to open the drive. There's a good chance you'll be able to navigate into your documents and other folders and copy them onto a different hard drive.
2. Use a LiveCD
Don't have access to a second computer for doing as you please? This method will be ideal, then. You'll need to get temporary access to a computer with Internet and a DVD burner. Download a Linux LiveCD - Damn Small Linux is the smallest, but also has issues mounting hard drives. The most simple for an average computer user would be Puppy Linux. It has a larger file size, but should recognize your drive.
Burn the Live CD ISO to a CD and insert it into your computer (the one with the crashed hard drive). Restart the computer and when it the computer logo appears, press F2 (or whatever key for your system) to enter BIOS. Change the boot sequence to CD first, Save and then Exit.
The Live CD will start, simply follow the directions on the screen--don't worry, nothing is being done to your hard drive. The OS will start, and you should see your hard drive mounted on the desktop--something like "60GB", etc. Plug in a second drive and copy and paste the folders over.
3. Data Recovery Software
Do the above solutions have your head spinning? If you want something a little less complicated, you may want to give recovery software a go. There are a number of different free recovery tools available, and you may be one of the lucky users who have success with the programs.
There are a large number of programs available, but the quality of each varies. A good place to start would be Data Disc Recovery--it's free, easy to use, and works on crashed drives (it can also retrieve deleted files and others). If one doesn't work, try a different one.
4. Freeze It
his method surprises many, but it actually does work (depending on what happened to the drive). The idea is that freezing it will constrict loose parts long enough for the drive to work properly. Make sure you have a computer ready to plug the drive into and an external case. Place the hard drive into a baggy, seal it tightly, and put it in the freezer overnight. The next day, remove it from the baggy and put it in the external drive case. Transfer the data from the drive before it warms too much and crashes again.
5. Get a Pro
If all else fails, you either have to accept that the data is gone or, if the data is really important, take the hard drive to a professional. It will be expensive, but there's a good chance a pro will be able to retrieve some of the data for you.
http://laptoplogic.com/resources/5-ways-to-retrieve-data-off-a-crashed-hard-drive
Retrieve Information on a crashed Hard Drive
http://recover-deleted-files-africa.blogspot.com/2009/03/retrieve-information-on-crashed-hard.html
Data Disc Recovery (Software)
Data Disc Recovery is a free hard drive recovery software made available by DAGsoft, it can efficiently scan and recover data from crashed hard disk data in FAT and NTFS format. Besides standard hard disk file recovery data, DDR can also:
* Recover data lost by âshift - deleteâ on FAT partitions
* Recover any data fragments from drive
* Search drive through many criterion
* Searching data directly on HDD, for example scanning free clusters in search for our file
Download Data Disc Recovery (version: 0.9.9.10)
PC Inspector File Recovery (Software)
PC Inspector file recovery is a hard drive data recovery software, if DDR failed in recovering your hard drive data, do give PC Inspector a try before you pay for a shareware, some of the key features of this free hard drive crash data recovery tool:
* Works even if the boot sector or FAT has been erased
* The free hard
It's an inevitability, and it always happens when you're least prepared - the hard drive crash. Sure, you might notice it's taking a bit longer to boot, or there's an occasional click that just doesn't sound right, but it's still a surprise the day your computer fails to boot.
How do you get your data off that hard drive once it's no longer able to boot? Is it still possible? This depends on what exactly went wrong with your drive. It is safe to assume, however, that will the proper method, you will be able to retrieve at least part of your lost data.
Below are five different methods for getting documents, pictures, and other important files off a crashed hard drive.
1. Use an External Case
This method is the most simple available, and for many people it is also the solution they need. Simply purchase an external hard drive case that allows you to plug your hard drive into a computer with a standard USB cable. Remove the crashed hard drive from your computer and carefully insert it into the external case (make sure you ground yourself before touching it), then plug it into a different system and try to open the drive. There's a good chance you'll be able to navigate into your documents and other folders and copy them onto a different hard drive.
2. Use a LiveCD
Don't have access to a second computer for doing as you please? This method will be ideal, then. You'll need to get temporary access to a computer with Internet and a DVD burner. Download a Linux LiveCD - Damn Small Linux is the smallest, but also has issues mounting hard drives. The most simple for an average computer user would be Puppy Linux. It has a larger file size, but should recognize your drive.
Burn the Live CD ISO to a CD and insert it into your computer (the one with the crashed hard drive). Restart the computer and when it the computer logo appears, press F2 (or whatever key for your system) to enter BIOS. Change the boot sequence to CD first, Save and then Exit.
The Live CD will start, simply follow the directions on the screen--don't worry, nothing is being done to your hard drive. The OS will start, and you should see your hard drive mounted on the desktop--something like "60GB", etc. Plug in a second drive and copy and paste the folders over.
3. Data Recovery Software
Do the above solutions have your head spinning? If you want something a little less complicated, you may want to give recovery software a go. There are a number of different free recovery tools available, and you may be one of the lucky users who have success with the programs.
There are a large number of programs available, but the quality of each varies. A good place to start would be Data Disc Recovery--it's free, easy to use, and works on crashed drives (it can also retrieve deleted files and others). If one doesn't work, try a different one.
4. Freeze It
his method surprises many, but it actually does work (depending on what happened to the drive). The idea is that freezing it will constrict loose parts long enough for the drive to work properly. Make sure you have a computer ready to plug the drive into and an external case. Place the hard drive into a baggy, seal it tightly, and put it in the freezer overnight. The next day, remove it from the baggy and put it in the external drive case. Transfer the data from the drive before it warms too much and crashes again.
5. Get a Pro
If all else fails, you either have to accept that the data is gone or, if the data is really important, take the hard drive to a professional. It will be expensive, but there's a good chance a pro will be able to retrieve some of the data for you.
http://laptoplogic.com/resources/5-ways-to-retrieve-data-off-a-crashed-hard-drive
Retrieve Information on a crashed Hard Drive
http://recover-deleted-files-africa.blogspot.com/2009/03/retrieve-information-on-crashed-hard.html
Data Disc Recovery (Software)
Data Disc Recovery is a free hard drive recovery software made available by DAGsoft, it can efficiently scan and recover data from crashed hard disk data in FAT and NTFS format. Besides standard hard disk file recovery data, DDR can also:
* Recover data lost by âshift - deleteâ on FAT partitions
* Recover any data fragments from drive
* Search drive through many criterion
* Searching data directly on HDD, for example scanning free clusters in search for our file
Download Data Disc Recovery (version: 0.9.9.10)
PC Inspector File Recovery (Software)
PC Inspector file recovery is a hard drive data recovery software, if DDR failed in recovering your hard drive data, do give PC Inspector a try before you pay for a shareware, some of the key features of this free hard drive crash data recovery tool:
* Works even if the boot sector or FAT has been erased
* The free hard
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