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General discussion

recovering data from hard drive

Aug 30, 2004 1:37PM PDT

Hi,

I have a Dell Inspiron 600m laptop which won't start windows xp home; I've tried everything, but nothing can get it to start. Using recovery console I can see that the files on my hard drive are still intact, so I was wondering how I could get access to them. My other working computer is an Inpsiron 2650 laptop. Would it be possible to take out the hard drive, buy an external enclosure which hooks up to a USB port, and transfer the data that way? Or could I slave the hard drive to the laptop and get it back that way? I'd prefer the first option if that's possible. Thanks.


Andre

Discussion is locked

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Re: recovering data from hard drive
Aug 30, 2004 9:03PM PDT

Yes. I've used both the USB external cases and this $3.65 adapter from http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=HD-108&cat=HDD to copy data off the drive. USB enclosures have their own can of configuration worms so be sure you are an USB GURU. The IDE adapter is very simple as I place the adapter/drive on the second IDE channel on its own, boot up the OS and copy the files out.

Best of luck,

Bob

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Re: recovering data from hard drive
Aug 31, 2004 2:45AM PDT

Would the IDE adapter also work in a laptop? The other page says it is for a hard drive conversion to another desktop, which I don't have. Also, the OS (Windows XP Home) won't boot up at all, so would I have to remove the hard drive itself? Thanks for the help.

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Re: recovering data from hard drive
Aug 31, 2004 2:52AM PDT

In short. No.

It wasn't clear what you had to work with. Since you have no desktop, you have two hopes in my book.

1. The USB enclosure. It should work, but don't count on it. I see people flail about on this one due to USB 2.0 cases that puport to work on USB 1.1 and they don't. Also, USB 2.0 support is in XP SP1 and not XP! http://www.usbman.com covers this and other issues.

2. KNOPPIX.

If you have an USB CDRW like I do, then booting KNOPPIX can provide a way to copy files out. Even to another network share.

You can find KNOPPIX on google.com so I won't provide a link to it's home page. Your friend with a cable mode should get it for you.

Read http://tips.oncomputers.info/archives2004/0401/2004-Jan-11.htm to see how they used it to save files.

Happy recovery.

Bob

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Re: recovering data from hard drive
Sep 16, 2004 6:07PM PDT

Usb is supporting in all OS from win98se up to XpPro except you have to load drivers for all except XP. Use one that has OXFORD Chipset that one will work on all usb1.1 and 2.0

You can use the laptop adapter to IDE to run in desktop you have to run a s master on the secondary ide channel.

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That is untrue.
Sep 16, 2004 8:47PM PDT

"

Usb is supporting in all OS from win98se up to XpPro except you have to load drivers for all except XP.

"

Sorry, I still have to load motherboard drivers for Via, SIS and other chipsets. And for USB 2.0 still more work.

Read http://www.usbman.com for details, but we all had wished we didn't have to do all this work.

Bob