how to get info off somewhat dead computer? help please.

[HBARleatherneck]

Ok, as I reported before my laptop kind of died. it still turn on. but it reboots it self contantly, but the screen never comes on. so once I get a computer that works, can I use a USB cable to hook it up to the new computer and download the data to my new computer? kind of like it being a harddrive? or is there another way? i know if I can do it, I will have to pay someone. That is bad enough, but I live so far away, and never go to town, that makes it worse. Any help? it is an HP pavillion laptop. (actually it is my wifes computer) my one and only computer mostly died years ago.

the computer worked fine untill the other day, I got on this site and opened one of the USMC03's training picture pages. then the screen went all messed up. like the vhold was off on an old tv. that happened after starting it over several times. then the screen stopped all together. so I never had a chance to grab the stuff off.

you dont think Jeff sabatoged my computer, because i said his thread needed more girls? I am not paranoid.

[iamhunter]

depends on what the problem is.

the first step is to get that hard drive into another machine and see if it's still functioning.

If it is, just grab your data off it.

If the hard drive is corrupted, you'll have to look into some data recovery software.

[CrufflerSteve]

I agree. Try connecting the hard drive to another machine and see if you can pull data off. Desk tops often have extra connectors and space.

After my wife fried my laptop with a cup of tea I was able to get data back by attaching it to a spare connector on my desktop.

I don't think a USB would be useful here. See if you can directly drive it on another system. Laptops have been using SATA for sometime now and that is was I used.

Steve

[testify4]

If the laptop isn't booting, I'd remove the hard drive from it and attempt to bring it up on a working computer.

I have a USB 2.0 to IDE/SATA adaptor I use a lot...I have saved the data from many dead computers with it.

It looks something like this. I don't know if Best Buy would have something like it.

http://www.cablestogo.com/product_li...0-_-2905382361

[HBARleatherneck]

that cable seems like it would be perfect. pull out the hard drive. plug it in, plug the usb into the new computer. thanks.

[Hoosier]

I have an adaptor like the one linked there, and used it to rescue data off an old laptop drive.

H.