Ok all knowing hive mind - what do I do? The laptop now has a 'no operating system found' error on bootup. I've taken it out and put it into an adapter to use as an external drive, but neither myself of the IT geek at work can get it to fire up. I really, really want the data off this thing, like, I'll happly pay for it but I honestly don't know what (or who) to try. Any thoughts?
Next, how do I get a laptop with a brand new, blank hard drive back to working ok? I can't find the damn recovery disks and I don't have to original windows disk (OE installation) to start things rolling.
We used these ppl at my old place, not cheap but you expected that though didn't you?
http://www.ontrackdatarecovery.co.uk/
Contact you laptop vendor for recovery disc's, though obviously expect to pay for them.
Otherwise purchase a new copy of windows and install away
EDIT#1
PS: IF you have any member of your family in school/college/uni, go to : http://www.software4students.co.uk and buy it cheap (legimately).
EDIT#2
We used to use a linux boot disc's to read dead windows drive quite sucessfully, download a copy here: http://www.knoppix.net/get.php
Though if the drive mechanism dead, you 'll need to send it to a professional
I've also used Ontrack's software very succesfully, but that ain't free..
Personally, i would use a Linux Live OS to boot from USB. That way, you'll be able to access all your data files on your laptop, extract them to somewhere safe, and format your laptop.
Visit [url= http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/ ]this link[/url]. This is a programme that will allow you to install a Linux distro to a USB pendrive, with which you can boot your laptop - i can recommend Knoppix to be very effective. Then all you'd need is an external hard drive to back your files up to.
Google will give you plenty of tutorials on how to do this, but it really is quite a simple process. [url= http://www.datarecoverytutorial.com/how-to-recover-files-from-laptop-with-crashed-windows/ ]Here[/url] is one example i found after a quick search. (EDIT - this is a tutorial aimed at the CD vesion of Knoppix, but it works just the same with a USB version)
This is the process i used recently to recover data from one of our old laptops, all of a few weeks ago. Hope this helps!
And if you can't find your Windows boot disc, put Linux on it for good. Either Ubuntu or Mint are good windows replacements - although there are hundreds of others.
My OH's laptop hard drive died - well it was still working, but wouldn't boot Windows.
I did some digging and found a thing called Puppy Linux that can be booted from a CD. I did this & managed to get all the bits she wanted off the drive & onto memory sticks, before replacing the hard drive & starting over.
I am a computer idiot, but managed it. It's really easy once you've told the computer to boot from CD in the BIOS.
Can't help with getting Windows back on it, if you don't have an appropriate disc. We had the original Dell discs so whacked them in.
Was the laptop dropped before it stopped working? if so Id be very cautious about using the drive at all as may be a physical issue with the drive (ie heads / platters) Any further spooling can worsen the damage.
If not dropped, Is the drive discoverable when you go into your "my computer" > Manage when connected via USB? if so then the data should be partially recoverable as more likely a boot sector / boot loader problem. If its not showing then would indicate towards a hardware issue as above.
If it is discoverable Ive had good results with DDR- NTFS recovery, did lose the entire drive structure on recovery, and a lot of the file names but good in an emergency.
[url= http://www.datarecoverysoftware.com ]DDR Software[/url]
I would recommend cloneing the drive first before you attempt anything to drastic, and work on the cloned copy, again in case there is any physical damage.
And invest in an SSD drive as a replacement ... fewer "surprise" issues with them.
Was the laptop dropped before it stopped working? if so Id be very cautious about using the drive at all as may be a physical issue with the drive (ie heads / platters) Any further spooling can worsen the damage.If not dropped, Is the drive discoverable when you go into your "my computer" > Manage when connected via USB? if so then the data should be partially recoverable as more likely a boot sector / boot loader problem. If its not showing then would indicate towards a hardware issue as above.
If it is discoverable Ive had good results with DDR- NTFS recovery, did leave the entire drive structure on recovery, and a lot of the file names but good in an emergency.
DDR Software
I would recommend cloneing the drive first before you attempt anything to drastic, and work on the cloned copy, again in case there is any physical damage.
And invest in an SSD drive as a replacement ... fewer "surprise" issues with them.
+1
Also, stop calling your work IT Support people geeks.
Nothing makes me engage my couldn't care less filter faster than when colleagues hit me up for a homer and then call me a geek.
Depending on the drive, it may have inertia sensors to prevent or reduce drop damage.
Try putting it in a plastic bag and sticking it in the freezer for a few hours - this has been known to work in some cases.
Ontrack are good, but if you're dealing with a hardware failure that means they need to open it up to extract data, you can be into 4 or 5 figures.
Ah, sorry about the geek comment. They call me the grumpy bastard - I assumed it was a term of affection!
The drive is not recognised when using via a usb external drive (as in I turned the laptop drive into one to try to get the files off)connector, so I feel a lot of the above may well not work. I can plug is into a different computer and although it can tell there is a different drive attched, nothing of the size or properties of it.
Tried the first people in the link - damn! It's £75 to say what file they could recover, then £450 to do the recovery. That's pretty steep!
I have a feeling it's a physical recovery job so £££££££?
I had same problem a few year ago and HAD to get data off a lap top. I sent my HD to http://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk/ and they recovered everything I wanted, great service, three day turnaround but cost £350 for the pleasure.
I then went out and bought a mac, an external hard drive and have never had a problem with computers since, no viruses, no re-boots and no of the crap that comes with windoze.
As said above the risk is you do more harm than good so thats the first caveat out the way. If you MUST have a go yourself ...
Can you hear the drive spooling up when it is powered on (hold it to your ear, you should hear a high pitched whine) ? If you can at least the spindles are running, second thing is any clicking noises, if it clicks repeatedly unplug it, and leave it for the experts (normally means one of the drive heads is catching a spindle, or is damaged).
If its spinning, and not clicking make a cloned copy, You could try Acronis / Paragon or Norton Ghost to create a raw clone of the drive, then use the trial software as above to scan the drive for files (I use Paragon). It should work even though the drive is not recognised by Windoze
Had a very similar situation where the boot sector / MBR of a hard drive was corrupt, same message in that no operating system found. Tried the Win7 Recovery disks, and the bootsect.exe prompts without success.
My laymans understanding is that the loss of the Boot / MBR sectors removes the instructions of what the drive is (ie file system / sector size / disk size) hence when its connected its not recognised.
The data recovery software bypasses the boot sector gubbins and simply scans the raw drive for information. It then strips out all the files and does its best to rebuild them. Biggest failing I had were larger image files (ie over 30mb tiffs / raws) that were very hit and miss to recover and the loss of a lot of file names. This is much the same as a recovery service will do unless its physical damage, in which case they will remount the platters and thats HUGE money by comparison to the quotes above.
I can plug is into a different computer and although it can tell there is a different drive attched, nothing of the size or properties of it.
Sounds like the drive is spinning up then. I would 2nd http://www.knoppix.net/get.php you might be able to see the data on there and put it on a new drive.
As for your OS you will either have to pay for a new Windows disc or upgrade to a Linux Distro.