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How to retrieve data from unbootable computer?

Discussion in 'Technology' started by JSinNOLA, Dec 1, 2010.

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  1. JSinNOLA

    JSinNOLA Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #1 JSinNOLA, Dec 1, 2010
    For months my fiancee was asking me to backup her computer for her and for whatever reason I didn't actually do it. Well, her computer started blue screening and would throw all sorts of errors when booting.

    Luckily I was able to get the machine to boot and stay on long enough to backup some of her files. However, I didn't get all of them and now the computer won't boot at all. You turn on the power and all you hear is the fan turn on and that's it. Blank, unlit screen.

    So, now I am in the dog house trying to figure out what to do. What are my options?
     
  2. GrigioGuy

    GrigioGuy Splenda Daddy
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    #2 GrigioGuy, Dec 1, 2010
    Remove hard drive

    Place it in one of those USB external chassis

    Attach to working computer

    Hope you can read it

    If you can, copy the files

    I've actually had better luck attaching broken Windows hard drives to Mac computers for the copy process.
     
  3. walnut

    walnut F1 Rookie
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    #3 walnut, Dec 1, 2010
    +1 to what Tillman said. I've had to do this a few times now for my parents and once on a PC of my own. Doesn't sound like an HDD problem, more so a motherboard so you should be able to get it all off the drive. Hell, if its a decent sized drive, get the files off of it, reformat it and leave it in the case as an external drive and use it for backup!

    I believe Windows now has a backup feature built in that you could schedule weekly/daily backups to avoid this in the future.
     
  4. JSinNOLA

    JSinNOLA Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #4 JSinNOLA, Dec 1, 2010
    Ah, interesting idea.

    Here are the specs on the comp:

    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01062700&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

    Any clue which type of external chassis I should buy for this?
     
  5. walnut

    walnut F1 Rookie
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    #5 walnut, Dec 1, 2010
    Newegg.com this one should work for you as would anything similiar.
     
  6. Fast_ian

    Fast_ian Two Time F1 World Champ

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    #6 Fast_ian, Dec 1, 2010
    What computer are you going to mount it to?

    You may not need the USB thing if you can open yours up & find an unused SATA port - They're generally available IME.

    Good luck,
    Cheers,
    Ian
     

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