HELP WTD all u computer boffs

[scubaloo]

Evening all....bout an hour ago my lapto decided to go on strike and it wont boot up...a frind in the know has tryed to recover all the files i would like off but no go...he can c the files to get off etc but it doesnt want to play, any of you computer guys n gals out there know how i / we can do this...im not bothered bout the comp i just want files etc off.......its a packard bell Igo laptop bout 7yrs old......

TIA

[turbanator]

I'd get hold of a USB disk enclosure, whack yer l/t HDD in and use another l/t to pull the data off.

Other than that you're probably buggered unless you want to pay for a data retrieval company to have a go, but then the sky's the limit (well to the depth of your pockets).

hth - it probably doesn't

Paul

[scubaloo]

Hi .....it may be of help....can u please just breakdown the top line of your post plese and i shud b able to go from their.......



TIA

[StuartC]

He's recommending an external disk enclosure/caddy.

something like this
External 2.5 Silver USB2 IDE Hard Drive Enclosure - Misco.co.uk

check it's the correct type for the laptop hard disk (normally a 2.5 inch drive) and has the matching interface connector (listed as IDE or SATA)

take the disk out of the laptop.
fit it into the enclosure
plug the enclosure into another PC via USB and read it like an external drive.
You won't be able to boot the operating system off it, but you can access the files, so long as the disk drive itself isn't what's dead.

[turbanator]

Originally Posted by StuartC

He's recommending an external disk enclosure/caddy.

something like this
External 2.5 Silver USB2 IDE Hard Drive Enclosure - Misco.co.uk

check it's the correct type for the laptop hard disk (normally a 2.5 inch drive) and has the matching interface connector (listed as IDE or SATA)

take the disk out of the laptop.
fit it into the enclosure
plug the enclosure into another PC via USB and read it like an external drive.
You won't be able to boot the operating system off it, but you can access the files, so long as the disk drive itself isn't what's dead.

That's what I said, wasn't it ? I just said it in Geek

Yes, that's right, it's probably the easiest way to do it, assuming that you have another PC handy.

You *may* be able to re-use the drive after, but if it's beginning to fail then I'd bin it as they are relatively cheap.

After this, use the USB enclosure and a reliable disk as a handy backup device for whatever you replace the PC with

Best
Paul

[Glyn]

If you can get the hard disk out and post it to me, I'll copy any recoverable files to cd for you.

Glyn

[scubaloo]

Thanks for those replies....and yes i may well take u up on the offer to recover the info thanx....the fault that is coming up on boot up is
UNMOUNTABLE BOOT VOLUME if that means anything.....the files are there but the laptop wont boot.....is this anymore use for u guys....Thanks again

[lloydwatkin]

Sounds like the MBR (master boot record) is damaged. Here's instructions on how to fix it: Fix the MBR in Windows XP - Techzonez

Hopefully that'll sort it, Lloyd.

[Glyn]

Dont mess with the MBR before you have recovered the data. You may make things a lot worse.

[scubaloo]

Thanks everyone for ur help and advice........