Buzz
If your laptop is damaged due to a software malfunction rather than a hardware failure, the files may still be stored on the hard drive, even if they are inaccessible. This article will guide you on how to recover data from a laptop's hard drive. You can transfer the data to another computer or an external hard drive.
Steps to Follow
Turn the old hard drive into an external drive (for Windows, Mac, Linux)
Purchase an external hard drive enclosure. This accessory allows you to place the hard drive from your laptop into a casing that lets you connect it to another computer via USB. Essentially, this accessory transforms your laptop's hard drive into an external drive. Since each laptop has different types of hard drives, you need to check your damaged laptop's specifications before purchasing the enclosure. For example, if your laptop has a 2.5 SATA hard drive, you will need a 2.5 SATA USB enclosure.
- Note: Hard drive enclosures are not commonly sold in stores, so you may have to order them online.
Tip: Unless you are using a SATA hard drive, you will need to purchase a hard drive enclosure specifically designed for laptop hard drives; only SATA enclosures are compatible with both desktop and laptop hard drives.
Borrow or buy a new computer with the same operating system as your old one. If your old computer runs Windows, you need to borrow or buy a new Windows machine. If your old laptop is a Macbook, borrow or buy a MacOS machine. Make sure the computer you're using has enough free space to store the files you want to recover from your damaged laptop.
- Alternatively, you can connect a second external hard drive to the working computer and transfer the files from the old hard drive to the new one.
- Linux computers can read data from Windows systems (but not the other way around); however, it's best to use a Windows computer for Windows hard drive recovery unless you're knowledgeable in both systems.
- Mac computers can read Windows NTFS-formatted hard drives, but they cannot write to or transfer files to an NTFS drive. Hard drives formatted for Mac’s HFS file system can only be read by other Mac computers.
Remove the hard drive from the damaged laptop. Make sure the laptop is powered off and disconnected from any power source. Look for the cover on the bottom of the laptop and remove it. Next, locate and carefully remove the hard drive from inside the computer. You may need to use a screwdriver to open the bottom panel and release the hard drive. The location of the hard drive will vary by laptop model. Refer to the user manual or the manufacturer's website if you're unsure where the hard drive is located.
- Some laptops may require special tools to open and/or remove the hard drive. Check the label under the laptop for the exact model number, then search online for instructions on how to remove the hard drive from your specific laptop model. You may also find official user manuals and YouTube tutorials that can guide you through the process. In some cases, you might need to take the laptop to a service center.
Install the old hard drive into the hard drive enclosure. Align the connectors on the hard drive with the corresponding slots in the enclosure. This process may vary depending on the product model. Refer to the user manual included with the enclosure for detailed instructions.
- Note that IDE hard drives have a detachable converter on their surface. Simply remove this converter to connect the hard drive to the enclosure's interface.
Connect the hard drive enclosure to another computer. Once the hard drive is secured in the enclosure, it becomes an external drive. Use a USB cable to connect the hard drive enclosure to another computer.
Connect the second external hard drive to the working computer (optional). If you wish to use a second external hard drive, connect it to your computer using a USB cable. Once the hard drive is connected, you should see an icon on your Mac screen or a notification on your Windows screen. The computer will automatically access the hard drive.
- If the computer does not automatically show a notification for the external drive, you can open File Explorer on Windows or Finder on Mac and click on the old hard drive. The File Explorer program has a folder icon with a blue paperclip, visible in the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. The Finder program has a blue and white smiley face icon, visible in the Dock at the bottom of the screen.
- If the computer doesn't recognize the hard drive on the first attempt, try unplugging the hard drive and reconnecting it.
- If the computer still can't read the hard drive, it may be damaged (not due to the computer's software). In this case, you may need professional help if you wish to continue recovering the hard drive. However, this option could be expensive.
Transfer old data to another hard drive or computer. You can transfer the data to the working computer or a second external hard drive by simply copying and pasting or dragging and dropping the files. If you have many large files (such as music or movies), the transfer process may take several hours.
Close the File Explorer window on Windows or Finder on Mac. After transferring all your data, click the X icon to close the File Explorer or Finder window. The good news is, the faulty computer remains physically intact, so it might still be in working condition if you've reinstalled the operating system or replaced the faulty components.
Right-click the USB icon and select Eject. You can now safely disconnect the old hard drive.
Connect the old hard drive to a desktop computer (for Windows, Linux).
Purchase a laptop hard drive adapter. This allows you to directly connect your laptop’s hard drive to a compatible desktop computer. Since each computer uses a different type of hard drive, you need to check the specifications of your damaged laptop before purchasing. For example, if your laptop has a 2.5 SATA hard drive, you will need a 2.5 SATA adapter.
Borrow or buy a new computer with the same operating system as your old one. If your old computer runs Windows, you need to borrow or purchase a new Windows machine. If your old laptop is a Macbook, borrow or buy a computer running MacOS. Ensure the working computer has enough free space to store the files you want to recover from the damaged laptop.
- A Linux computer can read data from a Windows machine (but not the other way around); however, it’s better to use a Windows computer to recover a Windows hard drive, unless you are familiar with both systems.
Remove the hard drive from the damaged laptop. First, disconnect the power and remove the battery. Locate the hard drive on your laptop and remove it. Unscrew the screws on the hard drive cover and take the hard drive out. Some hard drives will pop up, while others will slide out.
- The location of the hard drive varies by laptop model. Refer to the user manual or the manufacturer’s website for assistance in locating the hard drive in your laptop.
- If your laptop has an IDE hard drive, note that a detachable converter is attached to the surface of the hard drive. Remove this converter to connect it easily in the next steps.
- You may need special tools to open and/or remove the hard drive from certain laptop models. Check the label under the laptop for the exact model number and search online for instructions on how to remove the hard drive from your specific laptop model. You might find the official manual and even YouTube videos that guide you on how to disassemble your laptop. In some cases, you may need to take it to a repair center.
Luigi Oppido
Computer repair technician & Owner, Pleasure Point Computers
Computer repair technician & Owner, Pleasure Point Computers
You can transfer an active hard drive from one computer to another. If your damaged laptop’s hard drive still works, you can remove it and install it in another computer with a compatible operating system. If the hard drive won’t boot, try copying the files. If the boot section of the hard drive is damaged, you can attempt to rebuild the hard drive.
Turn off the desktop computer, disconnect, and open the case. You will need an adapter to directly connect the old hard drive to the motherboard.
Warning: Touch a metal object or wear an anti-static wristband when handling internal computer components. Static electricity can damage your computer. Avoid placing components on carpeted surfaces.
Connect the damaged hard drive to another computer using a hard drive adapter. The procedure will vary depending on the type of hard drive and adapter; so, refer to the adapter’s user manual for specific instructions.
- If you have an IDE hard drive, switch it to 'slave' mode before connecting it to the IDE cable. The configuration is typically noted on the hard drive, and you’ll need to remove the plastic cover attached to the connector’s latches. Switching to slave mode ensures there is no conflict between the laptop’s hard drive and the 'host' drive during boot-up.
Modify the computer settings to recognize the new hard drive. Connect the computer to power, turn it on, and access the BIOS. Go to the Standard CMOS Settings or IDE Config (IDE Configuration) with four settings, including the host and 'slave' settings. Change these four fields to auto-detect mode.
- BIOS settings and menus may differ between computers.
Exit BIOS and restart the computer. Your computer should now automatically detect the new hard drive.
Open the new hard drive. If you are using Windows, open File Explorer and locate the new hard drive. This is the program with the folder icon and the blue paperclip in the taskbar. On Linux, the new hard drive will appear in the dev directory.
- If the computer cannot read the hard drive, it may be damaged (not a software issue). In this case, you will need professional help if you want to continue 'rescuing' the hard drive. However, this option may be expensive.
Transfer old data to another hard drive or computer. You can move data to an active computer or a second external hard drive by copying and pasting, or by dragging and dropping. If you have many large files (such as music or movies), the transfer process may take several hours.
Turn off and disconnect the computer to remove the hard drive (if desired). Since the hard drive is intact, it should work normally when connected to the old laptop, provided you’ve reinstalled the operating system or replaced the faulty part.
Access old files with another computer (Mac only)
Buy a FireWire cable. This type of cable costs between 120,000 VND and 460,000 VND.
Borrow or buy a Mac. Ensure the Mac has enough space to store the files you wish to recover from the old laptop.
Note: You can connect a second external hard drive to another Mac and transfer files from the old hard drive to the new one.
Connect the damaged Mac to a working Mac using a FireWire cable. Make sure the working computer is powered off before you perform this step.
Boot the Mac in Target Disk Mode. For older MacOS versions, simply turn on the Mac and press T during startup. For MacOS 10.4 or newer, follow these steps to start the computer in Target Disk Mode:
- Start the computer normally.
- Click the Apple icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
- Select System Preferences.
- Click Startup Disk.
- Click Target Disk Mode.
- Restart to switch the computer into Target Disk Mode.
Locate and open the damaged computer's hard drive on a Mac. If the hard drive doesn’t show up, it’s likely that some hardware components are damaged, meaning you may need professional help to ‘rescue’ the computer. However, this option could be costly.
Transfer old files. You can move your data to another Mac or an external hard drive by copying and pasting, or by dragging and dropping. If you have many large files (such as music or movies), the transfer process could take several hours.
Close the hard drive window when you're done. The good news is that even if your computer has malfunctioned, it is physically intact, so it may still function properly once you reinstall the operating system or replace the faulty parts.
Right-click the hard drive to eject and select Eject. Now you can disconnect the damaged computer from the hard drive.
Tips
- If you suspect the old laptop has a virus issue, scan the hard drive with antivirus software before transferring the files to another computer.
- If you don’t want to install the laptop's hard drive into another laptop, you can always use it as an external hard drive or a secondary hard drive for a desktop computer.
Warning
- On Linux, make sure to switch the file system to read-only mode before proceeding. The NTFS file system can be opened in read-only mode by default without needing any additional support packages.
What You Need
- Some small screwdrivers
- A compatible computer
- A hard drive enclosure (for option 1)
- A laptop hard drive adapter (for option 2)
- A FireWire cable (for option 3)
