Help ! Files At Risk - Need Advice

[caesar]

Hello,
My primary PC (laptop) took the big one today While in use, a sudden single pop noise. Then nothing, won't turn on either by battery or AC. I waited for about an hour for it to cool down then retried it...it's dead.

I pulled the HDD and reinstalled it my wife's laptop (same brand). Tried to boot from "SAFE MODE" with no luck(hangs up half way) . Should I try the "REPAIR FILES" Boot Option using the OEM XP CD of my (now dead) laptop?

I don't want to reformat, I want to recover my files first..

Thanks!

[shadowpr]

Try to use this to connect he hard drive to a different computer to see if you can copy your files: http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=2020&cpc=SCH

Then see if the laptop is still under warranty.

[caesar]

Hello again,
Pretty neat device... I'm guessing it'll be able to see the HDD as a storage device as opposed to a OS primary HDD? If this doesn't work, will my next step be to try to repair XP?

Gosh, I've been plagued with solving alot of PC problems lately(mostly other peoples PC troubles) But now it's my own...My laptop was 4-5 years old

I think it's best that I don't do anything else until I purchase that item..
Any other tips?
Thank You!

[shadowpr]

If that doesn't work, then you might have to look into data recovery programs.

If it does work, and you save your files, then you can try a repair install and hope that the only problem is some corrupt files.

At least, that's what I would do.

[caesar]

Believe it or not...I just ordered that adapter .

I'm thinking it's just a corrupt Windows file. The HDD gets half-way through Safe Mode boot-up then it's silence.
But I don't want to take the chance on losing data by Repairing XP just yet.

What's a good Data Recovery Program?
Thanks!

[shadowpr]

I think spinrite.

Do a search. There have been a few threads that talk about that, and have recommendations.

[caesar]

Thank You!
I'll post my results in a few days...

[shadowpr]

Good luck.

[caesar]

OK...Just some follow up regarding my experience.
I was able to retrieve ALL of my data from my HDD. Yippi

First, I tried to reinstall the HDD into another laptop - that didn't work...it wouldn't boot normally or in Safe Mode.

Next, Still having the HDD removed from the dead laptop, I tried a "USB to 2.5 HDD adapter", which read the old HDD as a mass storage device when connected to another PC. it didn't totally work at first. It only reconized 5,783 files out of 225,000 (I remembered that # from the last virus scan). none of which were the files that I wanted to save.

Third, Now thinking the HDD itself was damaged, I purchased Spinrite 6.0v. Wonderful program! It told me that there were no physical defects or surface errors on my HDD from the electrical blow-out. After that, I was convinced it must be just a bunch of corrupted Windows files causing the problem. So I used a "Retail" version of XP Home & selected "Repair" the existing OS. I crossed my fingers that it wouldn't reformat or erase my files that I wanted to capture.
The "Repair" worked! Once again I reconnected the freshly "Repaired" HDD to the USB adapter and was able to see ALL of my files using my desktop PC. It was just a matter of "Copy & Paste" for the next few hours onto a new external HDD.

Hope this is helpful to someone...
Thanks!