Data Retrieval Off Laptop

**Baldie559** · 02-20-2008, 01:13 PM

I have a laptop that had all the data erased and I need to get it retrieved. I've done it with a desktop before by slaving the drive to a pc and using software to retrieve the data. HOw can I do it for a laptop? The laptop works its just the data was erased.

**Done_Fishin** · 02-20-2008, 01:19 PM

you can do it exactly the same way except that you'll need an adapter to allow it to connect to the IDE cable.
Keep it on a separate IDE ..
You can also use a 2,5" USB to mini IDE Adapter or even a 2,5" Case with USB

Using USB is slower but you have the advantage of Windows not trying to write "restore" info to it when it boots up.

**Baldie559** · 02-20-2008, 01:22 PM

Is there anyway of just running software directly on the laptop and retrieving it that way?

**sobeit** · 02-20-2008, 01:25 PM

the problem is the more you use the laptop, the less likely you will be able to recover everything.

Also any recovered data should be saved on another drive so you will not overwrite any section that still has data you need to recover.

**Baldie559** · 02-20-2008, 01:27 PM

I planned on saving the data to an external and doing a clean install of the OS onto that laptop.

**Done_Fishin** · 02-20-2008, 01:39 PM

You could boot from a floppy or CD that has a recovery software and supports external drives,
Symantecs Ghost does that on later versions but that's for backing up the drive ..

**Baldie559** · 02-20-2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Done_Fishin

You could boot from a floppy or CD that has a recovery software and supports external drives,
Symantecs Ghost does that on later versions but that's for backing up the drive ..

Its an XP laptop so I'm assuming the windows cd doesn't have that I don' think.

**Deleted090308** · 02-20-2008, 02:09 PM

Try Parted Magic. It's a bootable Linux-based CD with HDD tools. Supports USB etc.

**Baldie559** · 02-20-2008, 02:15 PM

So use this to boot to the laptop?

**Done_Fishin** · 02-20-2008, 02:18 PM

right now you say that the drive has been deleted so it's empty ..

the only thing that a Windows OS CD will do for you is to allow you to install or fix an install, which is not what you are trying to do here.

To gain access to those deleted files you need to boot from another drive (CD , HDD, USB or Floppy)

To recover your lost files you'll need storage space which should be large enough to store all your files, if you're old drive was full, it should be as big as or bigger than the old drive.

to boot off of usb or flash your laptop must support it.

It would be possible to boot into a linux LIVE CD and regain control of those lost files if you can find a recovery program that runs in Linux. you'll find that running a live CD will require a large chunk of memory though.

**Deleted090308** · 02-20-2008, 02:24 PM

Parted Magic includes a couple of data recovery tools, e.g. TestDisk.

**Deleted090308** · 02-20-2008, 02:48 PM

If you choose to connect the drive to another computer:

Recuva
Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier

Those two programs are free. Install them on the "new" computer's hard drive and copy files to that computer's HDD - never to the same drive you're trying to recover files from.

**Baldie559** · 02-20-2008, 06:18 PM

So If I use the linux process I can boot it on teh laptop itsself but I'll need to save the files to an external drive...correct?

Or

I'll just take that hard drive out and just connect via usb to another computer and use Recuva to retrieve the data?

**sobeit** · 02-20-2008, 06:23 PM

yep on the linux someone else will have to answer the second one.

**Deleted090308** · 02-21-2008, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baldie559

I'll just take that hard drive out and just connect via usb to another computer and use Recuva to retrieve the data?

Yes. If Recuva doesn't find all the files there are other programs.

**Baldie559** · 03-13-2008, 01:17 PM

If Parted Magic doesn't work for me, is there other software I can boot-up on to the laptop or at least another linux-based OS with HDD tools??

**Done_Fishin** · 03-13-2008, 02:01 PM

there are many programs that can be used .. many are free but many more are aimed at the professional community or require a fee to allow you to recover files.
They''ll allow you to see what is recoverable using their trial software but no recovery option until you purchase a key. These usually run from within a Windows environment.
I take it that so far you have either not had any success or you're still experimenting

**Baldie559** · 03-14-2008, 03:45 PM

I've tried Parted Magic but I'm not a Linux user so some of the options I'm unfamaliar with. I'm sort of an intermediete to advanced user so I can try some of the other programs. I'm sort of lost using Parted Magic. Can't find documentation on how to use it. I would like to try something that I can boot onto the laptop itself as I don't have proper attachements to take out the hard drive and slave it.

**Done_Fishin** · 03-15-2008, 07:01 AM

I can't advise myself since I haven't used it either .. I have used several from within a windows environment and the best thing (IMHO) is to use windows with a usb to 2.5" IDE adapter so that windows doesn't try to write "restore" info on it as the PC boots.

**Baldie559** · 03-15-2008, 07:59 AM

So you mean take out the hard drive on the laptop and connect it via usb to another pc and do it that way???

02-20-2008, 01:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Baldie559 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Posts: 654 OS: Xp and Vista	Data Retrieval Off Laptop I have a laptop that had all the data erased and I need to get it retrieved. I've done it with a desktop before by slaving the drive to a pc and using software to retrieve the data. HOw can I do it for a laptop? The laptop works its just the data was erased.

02-20-2008, 01:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 7,253 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7 Beta, Ubuntu 9.04 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Mepis 6.5, Fedora 10 My System	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop you can do it exactly the same way except that you'll need an adapter to allow it to connect to the IDE cable. Keep it on a separate IDE .. You can also use a 2,5" USB to mini IDE Adapter or even a 2,5" Case with USB Using USB is slower but you have the advantage of Windows not trying to write "restore" info to it when it boots up. __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner

02-20-2008, 01:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
Baldie559 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Posts: 654 OS: Xp and Vista	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop Is there anyway of just running software directly on the laptop and retrieving it that way?

02-20-2008, 01:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop the problem is the more you use the laptop, the less likely you will be able to recover everything. Also any recovered data should be saved on another drive so you will not overwrite any section that still has data you need to recover. __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

02-20-2008, 01:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
Baldie559 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Posts: 654 OS: Xp and Vista	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop I planned on saving the data to an external and doing a clean install of the OS onto that laptop.

02-20-2008, 01:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 7,253 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7 Beta, Ubuntu 9.04 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Mepis 6.5, Fedora 10 My System	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop You could boot from a floppy or CD that has a recovery software and supports external drives, Symantecs Ghost does that on later versions but that's for backing up the drive .. __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner Last edited by Done_Fishin; 02-20-2008 at 01:40 PM.

02-20-2008, 02:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop Try Parted Magic. It's a bootable Linux-based CD with HDD tools. Supports USB etc.

02-20-2008, 02:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
Baldie559 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Posts: 654 OS: Xp and Vista	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop So use this to boot to the laptop?

02-20-2008, 02:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 7,253 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7 Beta, Ubuntu 9.04 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Mepis 6.5, Fedora 10 My System	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop right now you say that the drive has been deleted so it's empty .. the only thing that a Windows OS CD will do for you is to allow you to install or fix an install, which is not what you are trying to do here. To gain access to those deleted files you need to boot from another drive (CD , HDD, USB or Floppy) To recover your lost files you'll need storage space which should be large enough to store all your files, if you're old drive was full, it should be as big as or bigger than the old drive. to boot off of usb or flash your laptop must support it. It would be possible to boot into a linux LIVE CD and regain control of those lost files if you can find a recovery program that runs in Linux. you'll find that running a live CD will require a large chunk of memory though. __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner

02-20-2008, 02:24 PM	#11 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop Parted Magic includes a couple of data recovery tools, e.g. TestDisk.

02-20-2008, 02:48 PM	#12 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop If you choose to connect the drive to another computer: Recuva Roadkil's Unstoppable Copier Those two programs are free. Install them on the "new" computer's hard drive and copy files to that computer's HDD - never to the same drive you're trying to recover files from.

02-20-2008, 06:18 PM	#13 (permalink)
Baldie559 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Posts: 654 OS: Xp and Vista	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop So If I use the linux process I can boot it on teh laptop itsself but I'll need to save the files to an external drive...correct? Or I'll just take that hard drive out and just connect via usb to another computer and use Recuva to retrieve the data?

02-20-2008, 06:23 PM	#14 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 7,433 OS: windows/linux	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop yep on the linux someone else will have to answer the second one. __________________ there's been global warming since the ice age

03-13-2008, 01:17 PM	#16 (permalink)
Baldie559 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Posts: 654 OS: Xp and Vista	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop If Parted Magic doesn't work for me, is there other software I can boot-up on to the laptop or at least another linux-based OS with HDD tools??

03-13-2008, 02:01 PM	#17 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 7,253 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7 Beta, Ubuntu 9.04 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Mepis 6.5, Fedora 10 My System	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop there are many programs that can be used .. many are free but many more are aimed at the professional community or require a fee to allow you to recover files. They''ll allow you to see what is recoverable using their trial software but no recovery option until you purchase a key. These usually run from within a Windows environment. I take it that so far you have either not had any success or you're still experimenting __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner

03-14-2008, 03:45 PM	#18 (permalink)
Baldie559 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Posts: 654 OS: Xp and Vista	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop I've tried Parted Magic but I'm not a Linux user so some of the options I'm unfamaliar with. I'm sort of an intermediete to advanced user so I can try some of the other programs. I'm sort of lost using Parted Magic. Can't find documentation on how to use it. I would like to try something that I can boot onto the laptop itself as I don't have proper attachements to take out the hard drive and slave it.

03-15-2008, 07:01 AM	#19 (permalink)
Done_Fishin Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brit living in Greece Posts: 7,253 OS: WinME, WinXP Pro SP3, Win7 Beta, Ubuntu 9.04 & Netbook Remix & CD2USB, Mepis 6.5, Fedora 10 My System	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop I can't advise myself since I haven't used it either .. I have used several from within a windows environment and the best thing (IMHO) is to use windows with a usb to 2.5" IDE adapter so that windows doesn't try to write "restore" info on it as the PC boots. __________________ . . I'm not old!! I'm age impaired .. D_F I DON'T PLAY GAMES How to mark your thread as solved HDD DIAG UTILS TSF's Photographer's Corner

03-15-2008, 07:59 AM	#20 (permalink)
Baldie559 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: California Posts: 654 OS: Xp and Vista	Re: Data Retrieval Off Laptop So you mean take out the hard drive on the laptop and connect it via usb to another pc and do it that way???