Recover files off unbootable laptop

[rowanbradley]

I have a laptop which I have been using for the last 18 months, and therefore have many many important files on its hard drive. The laptop will no longer boot, presumably because its copy of Windows has got corrupted somehow. I have tried a few obvious recovery methods (e.g. restore to an earlier restore point) but this has not enabled it to boot. What is the best way of getting my files off it? Can build a bootable USB stick with W7 and networking drivers on it, and use this to connect the PC to a network so I can copy off the files to another drive? How do I build the USB stick?

Thanks - Rowan

 

[mbarnes86]

The quickest way of getting a bootable cd or DVD or USB stick is to get a Linux live cd designed for rescue purposes
Most have a file manager which will look reasonably familiur to a Windows user
Example parted magic ($5 usd per download)
Includes TestDisk PhotoRec from cgsecurity.org

On Many laptops the hard disk is in a tray which can easily be removed after removing 1 or 2 screws
Then put in a desktop with a spare sata port
Or a laptop with esata port
Or put in a USB tray and connect to any PC with windows

Check this disk for physical damage using Western Digital data life guard (works with any brand of drive)
If it passes WD dlg test continue.( If not get further advice )
Then run chkdsk
If no corruption found by chkdsk or it is fixed then extract data to another disk

If disk passes these tests return hard disk to laptop

Boot off windows 7dvd or system recovery cd or USB to repair start up files

Regards
Mike Barnes

 

[boosted1g]

Easiest method is to get a usb-sata adatper and remove the drive from the laptop, plug it into the adapter and plug it into another computer. Then if the partition tables/mbr are not corrupt you should be able to view and copy the files.

Otherwsie you will need to make a linux live cd, boot via CD and then mount your windows drive.

Never leave important files on a single hard drive, always backup to a network drive, external or even usb drive. In this case windows got corrupted but if the drive itself died you would be completley screwed.

 

[The Ginger]

I have a suggestion.

You can always Create a Linux Boot key using a USB (it'll be easier than making a windows one) that you can partition the USB stick to be able to save files to it. so you can boot from the USB and copy things over, that is if you have a large enough USB stick.

Ubuntu
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

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

^^ For the above link.. from windows.. if you look at step 4 in the installer there is a bar that lets you select how much space left on the USB can be used to hold files permanently..


Another think you could do is to take the screws out of the bottom of the laptop and use a SATA to USB converter to look at the HDD like an external.
http://www.amazon.com/Vantec-CB-ISATAU2-Supports-2-5-Inch-5-25-Inch/dp/B000J01I1G

 

[Knock]

If the laptop had a virus but broke from falling and I recovered the file by taking the drivex ouf and connecting it to a new pc will the virus infect the new pc even if it had anti virus?