Laptop crashed, trying to get files off it using my desktop

[debr]

Hi,
So my laptop crashed and I was told my last chance of trying to get my files from it was to plug it into a desktop and go about it that way.

So I plugged it in, turned on my machine, and I don't see it. I'm guessing the computer can't read it... what can I do?

 

[dma0991]

Does it appear in Disk Management as a partition? Do you feel vibration or heat while clamping the HDD in the palm of your hands? If no and yes, there is a small chance of recovery. If yes and yes, a better chance. If no and no, its time is up.

 

[debr]

No, it doesn't show as a partition... that I can see anyways.
Yes, there is vibration from it, and it's not hot.

 

[Harvey]

From where you are, now, you can try rescanning the system to try to find the drive. From the desktop;

1. Right click "Computer" (Vista or newer) or "My Computer" (XP).

2. Select "Manage" from the drop down menu.

3. Click "Disk Management"

4. In the upper toolbar, click Action, and select "Rescan Disks."

If it doesn't find your laptop drive:

1. Is your laptop drive SATA or PATA?

2. How did you connect your laptop drive to another machine? If you used a SATA or PATA to USB adapter, my experience is that various makes of these devices do not always work with every drive and every machine, even when both the drive and the machine are working correctly. It's a known problem with these devices.

3. If your laptop drive is SATA, and the other machine is a desktop, to rule out any problems with a SATA to USB adapter, plug it directly into a SATA connector on the motherboard. SATA is supposed to be hot pluggable, but this varies between motherboards so you may have to reboot to recognize the drive.

PATA connectors for laptops and desktops are different so you would need an adapter between the two to connect a PATA laptop drive directly to a motherboard, and you definitely do not want to try hot plugging it.

If none of the above works, you can try connecting tbe laptop drive to yet another machine or using another SATA/PATA to USB adapter. If that doesn't work, it's probably toast. If the data on the drive is really critical, you could contact a data recover service, but they are pretty expensive so it may not be worth the cost.

 

[jiffylube1024]

You need to physically remove the hard drive from the laptop and plug it into the PC. How have you connected your laptop to the PC? The top 3 posters assume that you've removed the drive already and connected it to the PC. Have you done that yet? Usually all you need to do to remove the hard drive is remove 2-4 screws at the bottom of the case and slide out the drive. You may need to download the manual for your laptop.