How do I recover files from laptop HDD?

[hipkiss]

So my laptop hard drive recently died almost. It started with the HDD suddenly running at 100% and then it escalated until I couldn't even turn the thing on.
I've tried running a boot USB - ran repair suite (which didn't work - after leaving it for 6 hours I assumed it wouldnt work). I don't want to re-install windows as I need the files. I was able to boot ubuntu from a boot USB but I couldn't access the HDD and some mounting techniques didn't work.
I took the HDD out the laptop and plugged it into my other PC, through USB and it said something about needing to be USB 2 instead of 3. So I then took my PC apart and plugged the HDD in through SATA - I am currently running a recovery wizard on it. My PC wouldn't correctly recognise the HDD and as such I wasn't allowed to access it through windowsExplorer.
I'm wondering if there's something else I could've done whilst the HDD was in the laptop?
Please help 🙁

 

[SuperSoph_WD]

Welcome to the TH community, @hipkiss!

Unfortunately, if even a Ubuntu live CD is unable to detect the HDD, you are most probably dealing with a hardware failure on the drive. 🙁 Your best bet on getting those files back would be a professional data recovery company, if the data is so important to you! Any data retrieving attempts that you make by yourself might actually do more harm than good.
I'd strongly recommend you use the HDD manufacturer's brand-specific diagnostic tool to check up on the health and SMART status of the drive as well, BEFORE using any third-party recovery utilities.

Good luck & keep me posted.
SuperSoph_WD