Need to get files off an Unbootable hard drive

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by fusion08, Apr 26, 2012.

  1. fusion08

    fusion08 Member

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    The hard drive in my HP laptop which is a Western Digital SATA hard drive recently crashed. The operating system on the hard drive was windows 7. After it crashed, when I started it again it said unbootable hard drive. I took the hard drive out of my laptop and connected it to my desktop which has XP on it, using an USB 2.0 to IDE SATA HDD Adapter Cable. I have tried a lot of data recovery software to see if I can get my files back and none of them work. If anyone has an idea or solution to my problem please let me know.
     
  2. aldan

    aldan Active member

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    have you actually set the drive to slave?
     
  3. JST1946

    JST1946 Regular member

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    Last edited: Apr 26, 2012
  4. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    aldan, usb sata drives are not set to slave.

    fusion08, drive has to be seen by bios\windows for recovery programs to work.
     
  5. fusion08

    fusion08 Member

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    When I had the hard drive in the laptop it was seen by the bios, also the hard drive just makes a beeping sound constantly.
     
  6. attar

    attar Senior member

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    Try booting with Linux live cd or USB stick.
    I used the installer to make a live boot USB stick.

    These are the notes I made:
    =======================================================================================
    To install Linux Puppy on a pen drive (usb flash drive), download and run the Universal Installer GUI.

    Step 1 look for Linux Puppy 4.3.1 iso download in the drop down menu and optionally check the box to download the file.

    Step 2 browse to the iso that was downloaded.

    Step 3 (carefully) select the USB drive to install the iso.


    http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/

    Note that the downloaded ISO archive can be opened/examined using 7-Zip.
    7-Zip shows the files in lower case while mounting the iso on a virtual drive and using Explorer shows the files in upper case.
    Lower case is correct and the example file 'PUP_430.SFS' in Explorer, should actually be 'pup-430.sfs'
    Note the - [dash] which is legal in Linux is rendered _ [underscore] in Explorer.
    ==========================================================
    If required set the PC bios to boot from a usb device.

    On booting, before Windows starts, typically tap the F8 key to bring up the boot menu.
    Select the appropriate device to boot into Linux.
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2012
  7. aldan

    aldan Active member

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    yeah,thanks ddp,i should have read it more carefully the first time.
     

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