Second internal HDD causes Windows to not start

[jimmenaz]

I am wanting to recover files off of a HDD that for some reason won't startup any more (I've tried everything under the sun and it seems the windows installation has become super corrupt).

I took the HDD out of its computer and plugged it into my main PC (via SATA) and now my PC won't load windows. When the bad HDD isn't connected everything runs fine, then I connect it and windows gets stuck like it did in the old computer. I have checked BIOS and made sure that it is not set to boot from the old HDD at all, just from my SSD like normal but it gets the same result.

The plan was to just connect it and get any important files off of it so it can be formatted and I can try reinstalling windows on it. So my aim is primarily file rerovery. Any suggestions as to how I can do this?

 

[Paul NZ]

If its hanging its probably too corrupt to read from

 

[ronintexas]

It is possible you have a hardware problem on the drive. My suggestion is to get an external USB enclosure or docking station (about $20) to transfer the contents (if there is a hardware problem, it won't prevent Windows from loading).

 

[ngrego]

You could use a linux live cd like Ubuntu, load the linux os and see if you could access the drive.
Linux is usually more flexible then windows in these cases and may allow access to your drive.
It also has a nice partition editor (gparted) that will allow you to check the drive for errors.

All you need to do is download the os and burn to cd/dvd then boot from it to the live os that runs off the cd without making any changes to your windows installation.
Its wort a try and its free!