Retrieving photos and files off an old hard drive

[Arobbo87]

Can I get some help/advice please? I have an old HP laptop that hasn’t worked for a while, I’ve been meaning to take it to a repair shop or such like to get it looked at but never seem to get round to it.

I would like to know if it is at all possible to retrieve photos from a broken laptop? I have hundreds of family photos that I am really hoping I can get back again.. the laptop just has a blank screen so I can’t get them onto a usb or disc… so many photos of precious memories I would really like to be able to get them all back.

. I have taken out the hard drive and used an external SATA hard disk enclosure. When I connect it to my laptop I get 3 files come up on My Computer, They are ‘System’ ‘Local Disk’ and ‘Recovery’… none of these have any folders within them with my photos.. what do I do??

[Bruce]

make sure you have folder view option set to show hidden drives, folders and files.

so when you click on those three folders on the (now) external drive, you see nothing at all?
do they have sub-folders?

depending on the OS on that drive, your pictures should typically be under :\users<your profile name>\pictures
if the laptop had multiple users, check the other profile name folders under \users

[Malnutrition]

You may still be able to grab your files.

[URL unfurl="true"]https://accounts.google.com/v3/signin/identifier?continue=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.google.com %2Fsite%2Fcannedfixes%2Fpuppy-linux%2FPuppy%2520Linux.png&followup=https%3A%2F%2 Fsites.google.com%2Fsite%2Fcannedfixes%2Fpuppy-linux%2FPuppy%2520Linux.png&ifkv=AdBytiNYhxckuXMEJ KNDbw7fkCdEoR4NSLZUhzZCCqGSb2IXc5hOv2zRPPQ4TH75kyM DsTrA4JmfJA&osid=1&passive=1209600&flowName=GlifWe bSignIn&flowEntry=ServiceLogin&dsh=S369148820%3A17 53865027923408[/URL]

Backup your data using Puppy Linux

These instructions come courtesy of @phillpower2 from our technical section.
[HEADING=1]===================
Required Hardware
CD Burner (CDRW) Drive,
Blank CD,
Extra Storage Device (USB Flash Drive, External Hard Drive)[/HEADING]

1. Save these files to your Desktop/Burn Your Live CD:

[ul]
[li]Download Latest Puppy Linux ISO (i.e.: lupu-528.iso)[/li][li]Download BurnCDCC ISO Burning Software[/li][/ul]

There are instructions on how to boot from flash drive with puppy here

[ul]
[li]Open BurnCDCC with Windows Explorer[/li][li]Extract All files to a location you can remember[/li][li]Double Click[/li]https://sites.google.com/site/canned...rnCDCCIcon.PNG

BurnCDCC
[li]Click Browse[/li]https://sites.google.com/site/canned...owseButton.PNG

and navigate to the Puppy Linux ISO file you just downloaded
[li]Open/Double Click that file[/li][/ul]
IMPORTANT: Adjust the speed bar to CD: 4x DVD: 1x

[ul]
[li]Click Start[/li]https://sites.google.com/site/canned...tartButton.PNG
[li]Your CD Burner Tray will open automatically[/li][li]Insert a blank CD and close the tray[/li][li]Click OK[/li][/ul]

Puppy Linux Live CD will now be created

1. Set your boot priority in the BIOS to CD-ROM first, Hard Drive Second

[ul]
[li]Start the computer/press the power button[/li][li]Immediately start tapping the appropriate key to enter the BIOS, aka “Setup”[/li][/ul]
(Usually shown during the “Dell” screen, or “Gateway” Screen)

[ul]
[li]Once in the BIOS, under Advanced BIOS Options change boot priority to:[/li][/ul]
CD-ROM 1st, Hard Drive 2nd

[ul]
[li]Open your ROM drive and insert the disk[/li][li]Press F10 to save and exit[/li][li]Agree with “Y” to continue[/li][li]Your computer will restart and boot from the Puppy Linux Live CD[/li][/ul]

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1. Recover Your Data
   Once Puppy Linux has loaded, it is actually running in your computer’s Memory (RAM). You will see a fully functioning Graphical User Interface similar to what you normally call “your computer”. Internet access may or may not be available depending on your machine, so it is recommended you print these instructions before beginning. Also, double clicking is not needed in Puppy. To expand, or open folders/icons, just click once. Puppy is very light on resources, so you will quickly notice it is much speedier than you are used to. This is normal. Ready? Let’s get started.

3a. Mount Drives

[ul]
[li]Click the Mount Icon located at the top left of your desktop.[/li]https://sites.google.com/site/canned...xMountIcon.PNG
[li]A Window will open. By default, the “drive” tab will be forward/highlighted. Click on Mount for your hard drive.[/li][li]Assuming you only have one hard drive and/or partition, there may be only one selection to mount.[/li][li]USB Flash Drives usually automatically mount upon boot, but click the “usbdrv” tab and make sure it is mounted.[/li][li]If using an external hard drive for the data recovery, do this under the “drive” tab. Mount it now.[/li][/ul]

3b. Transfer Files.

[ul]
[li]At the bottom left of your desktop a list of all hard drives/partitions, USB Drives, and Optical Drives are listed with a familiar looking hard drive icon.[/li][li]Open your old hard drive i.e. sda1[/li][li]Next, open your USB Flash Drive or External Drive. i.e. sdc or sdb1[/li][li]If you open the wrong drive, simply X out at the top right corner of the window that opens. (Just like in Windows)[/li][li]From your old hard drive, drag and drop whatever files/folders you wish to transfer to your USB Drive’s Window.[/li][/ul]

For The Novice: The common path to your pictures, music, video, and documents folders is: Documents and Settings >> All Users (or each idividual name of each user. CHECK All Names!) >> Documents >> You will now see My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos.
Alternatively search for Main drive >> Users >> Username

Remember to only click once! No double clicking! Once you drag and drop your first folder, you will notice a small menu will appear giving you the option to move or copy. Choose COPY each time you drag and drop.

If you’re doing this to recover from a virus or malware infection, (or even if you’re not), DO NOT copy executable files (.exe, .scr. etc…) if any of these files are infected you could be copying the corruption over to any new device/computer. Just copy documents, pictures, music, or videos.

YOU ARE DONE!!! Simply click Menu >> Mouse Over Shutdown >> Reboot/Turn Off Computer. Be sure to plug your USB Drive into another working windows machine to verify all data is there and transferred without corruption.
Congratulations!

[Arobbo87]

make sure you have folder view option set to show hidden drives, folders and files.

so when you click on those three folders on the (now) external drive, you see nothing at all?
do they have sub-folders?

depending on the OS on that drive, your pictures should typically be under :\users<your profile name>\pictures
if the laptop had multiple users, check the other profile name folders under \users

They have sub folders but none of them are for file such as pictures, photos or documents.. I don’t understand what the files are to be honest I’m not very computer savvy.. the sub folders in the recovery file are $AVG, $RECYCLE.BIN, boot, hp, preload, recovery, system volume information, system.sav, bootmgr, BT_HP.FLG, CSP.DAT, deployRp.log, HP_WSD.dat, HPSF_rep.txt, language.ine, RPCONFIG.LOG.
The sub folders in the system file are $RECYCLE.BIN, Boot, system volume information, bootmgr.
The file that is Local disk say access denied when trying to open it..

[phillpower2]

In addition to what has previously been suggested by Bruce and Mal respectively.

Do you have an external screen that you could connect to the notebook that has no display, if yes, you may find it easier to replace the HDD back in the notebook and look for the pictures using the notebook and the external display.

[Arobbo87]

In addition to what has previously been suggested by Bruce and Mal respectively.

Do you have an external screen that you could connect to the notebook that has no display, if yes, you may find it easier to replace the HDD back in the notebook and look for the pictures using the notebook and the external display.

I can give that a go, what cables would I need to connect to the external screen?

[phillpower2]

Can you post the exact model name or number of the HP notebook and the screen that you will be using, this will allow us to check the specs of each so that we can find the correct cable.

Can I ask that you do not quote every reply, it really does not help and just makes for unnecessary reading, thanks.

[phillpower2]

Any update for us Arobbo87?

[Rajcetted129]

make sure you have folder view option set to show hidden drives, folders and files.

so when you click on those three folders on the (now) external drive, you see nothing at all?
do they have sub-folders?

depending on the OS on that drive, your pictures should typically be under :\users<your profile name>\pictures
if the laptop had multiple users, check the other profile name folders under \users

yes, that’s a good point

[phillpower2]

Any update for us? This thread will be closed if not replied to within 48hrs.