how to retrieve ONE file from a dead(?) laptop HD?

genericuser · 07-09-2006, 04:08 PM

Hi! One week ago my computer (Toshiba Satellite laptop + WinXP Home Edition) started having problems booting up. When I attempted running the defragmentation utility, the system froze dead and wouldn't restart. Upon turning it off and rebooting, I backed up all (so I thought) of my vital data and formatted HD using the Toshiba Recovery System disks. Something went wrong when I tried to install SP2 and firewall, so I repeated the formatting operation. And the next day the HD has died completely. My problem appeared, when I realized that a freeware program "FlashNote" which I had been using for last few months, stored part of my data in a folder C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\flashnote - and this folder I hadn't backed up.

The good thing is that the Toshiba Recovery System Disk doesn't allow to make a proper HD formatting prior to system reinstallation, all it does is a "quick format" which takes less than a minute. So I believe the HD wasn't thoroughly erased and this file should be still there on the hard-drive and I wonder if there's any smart way to retrieve it now?

I tried booting the machine from other WinXP CD and it starts properly but then it says there's no hard-drive installed and WinXP has to quit. I tried putting the laptop HD inside a desktop PC but the connection slots are of different sizes.

I thought there might be some smarter roundabout way to do it, since this is only one text file (less than 100kb) which exact location is known, so basically I don't need to restore all the HD content, only get access to this one file and put it on an USB pendrive. Does anybody know any utility which could help me to get this file back? I have bootable WinXP CD, a Knoppix bootable CD and an external USB 2.0. hard-drive (not bootable) if this helps. Also I heard putting a HD into a freezer could help, is that true?

The Toshiba warranty has expired and currently I cannot afford any pro service to get me this file back. I would appreciate any help, hints, ideas, etc!

**Terrister** · 07-09-2006, 07:52 PM

I would think your best way of doing this would be get a 2.5 to 3.5 adapter and mount this drive in a desktop. Then you can use recovery programs to try to recover files.

**Ralck** · 07-09-2006, 07:57 PM

The 'Ultimate Boot CD' may have some forensic utilities on it, I can't remember since last time I used it.
Also, the Bart's PE Windows boot disk may be able to mount the harddrive.

genericuser · 07-09-2006, 10:27 PM

Thank you guys, I appreciate, I'll try to get this adapter on Monday, meanwhile I am researching in order to find a proper recovery tool - 'the Ultimate Boot CD' may be the right and powerful one, but from what I have read it can be difficult to use in the beginning. In my case I know exactly what I want - just a one little file named notes.db, and I am looking for some tool which instead of scanning all the HD and displaying many advanced recover options, would rather quickly retrieve this one and only file.
Thanks in advance if someone could recommend me such utility.

07-09-2006, 04:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
genericuser Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2 OS: WinXP	how to retrieve ONE file from a dead(?) laptop HD? Hi! One week ago my computer (Toshiba Satellite laptop + WinXP Home Edition) started having problems booting up. When I attempted running the defragmentation utility, the system froze dead and wouldn't restart. Upon turning it off and rebooting, I backed up all (so I thought) of my vital data and formatted HD using the Toshiba Recovery System disks. Something went wrong when I tried to install SP2 and firewall, so I repeated the formatting operation. And the next day the HD has died completely. My problem appeared, when I realized that a freeware program "FlashNote" which I had been using for last few months, stored part of my data in a folder C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Application Data\flashnote - and this folder I hadn't backed up. The good thing is that the Toshiba Recovery System Disk doesn't allow to make a proper HD formatting prior to system reinstallation, all it does is a "quick format" which takes less than a minute. So I believe the HD wasn't thoroughly erased and this file should be still there on the hard-drive and I wonder if there's any smart way to retrieve it now? I tried booting the machine from other WinXP CD and it starts properly but then it says there's no hard-drive installed and WinXP has to quit. I tried putting the laptop HD inside a desktop PC but the connection slots are of different sizes. I thought there might be some smarter roundabout way to do it, since this is only one text file (less than 100kb) which exact location is known, so basically I don't need to restore all the HD content, only get access to this one file and put it on an USB pendrive. Does anybody know any utility which could help me to get this file back? I have bootable WinXP CD, a Knoppix bootable CD and an external USB 2.0. hard-drive (not bootable) if this helps. Also I heard putting a HD into a freezer could help, is that true? The Toshiba warranty has expired and currently I cannot afford any pro service to get me this file back. I would appreciate any help, hints, ideas, etc!

07-09-2006, 07:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	I would think your best way of doing this would be get a 2.5 to 3.5 adapter and mount this drive in a desktop. Then you can use recovery programs to try to recover files. __________________

07-09-2006, 07:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ralck TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,454 OS: 98SE/XP PRO/FC4 My System	The 'Ultimate Boot CD' may have some forensic utilities on it, I can't remember since last time I used it. Also, the Bart's PE Windows boot disk may be able to mount the harddrive. __________________ Power Supply Info Everyone Should Read! How to Post Your System Specs

07-09-2006, 10:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
genericuser Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2 OS: WinXP	Thank you guys, I appreciate, I'll try to get this adapter on Monday, meanwhile I am researching in order to find a proper recovery tool - 'the Ultimate Boot CD' may be the right and powerful one, but from what I have read it can be difficult to use in the beginning. In my case I know exactly what I want - just a one little file named notes.db, and I am looking for some tool which instead of scanning all the HD and displaying many advanced recover options, would rather quickly retrieve this one and only file. Thanks in advance if someone could recommend me such utility.