Laptop HD Question

[Benny]

thats just a regular sata interface it will go into any modern computer.

What part can I take off and not actually open the HD and damaging it?

 

[Benny]

Vantec NexStar TX NST-210S2-BK Hard Drive Enclosure - 2.5 SATA to USB 2.0 at TigerDirect.com

or ask to borrow one, i got an office east side indy if you want to pick one up..

I'm in Southern Indiana, so I think it'd probably be cheaper to go buy one for 10 bucks.

I appreciate the offer though.

 

[Benny]

Alright, well I'm having a HD enclosure delivered to me in about 25 minutes, so you can't really beat that.

I'm not going to take anything else apart until I do that.



If I put it in the enclosure, plug it in my comp and I can read the data on her HD, what exactly is that going to tell me?



BTW, thanks a LOT guys...It'll take me a day or two to rep everyone that has helped.

Especially Scutter with that insightful and over-the-top-helpful post of his...Too bad I can't rep it twice.

 

[varasha]

Ya order one from tiger and you will get it by Friday.. Sometimes dropping HDs does nothing to damage them, and sometimes they break just sitting there, so it is hard to know it is is broken without checking it.

If it is broken you can replace it with Seagate ST9320423AS Momentus 7200.4 Mobile Hard Drive - 320GB, 2.5, 7200 RPM, 16MB, SATA at TigerDirect.com on the cheap end or Seagate ST9750420AS Momentus Mobile Hard Drive - 750GB, 2.5, 7200RPM, 16MB, SATA at TigerDirect.com for the more expensive.

The reason i choose those two is because the 7200 RPM drive speed. You can get bigger ones for about the same price, but i find HD speed is often the slowest part of the modern computer.

If the drive is indeed dead there are a few options for data recovery. After you get the SATA enclosure we found before, put the HD in the freezer overnight, then put it int he enclosure, and hook it up to a computer.

Freezing it may allow it to run for a short period or time and give you a chance to get your data off of it. Remember the time is short so try and get the priority items off first.

 

[varasha]

Alright, well I'm having a HD enclosure delivered to me in about 25 minutes, so you can't really beat that.

I'm not going to take anything else apart until I do that.



If I put it in the enclosure, plug it in my comp and I can read the data on her HD, what exactly is that going to tell me?



BTW, thanks a LOT guys...It'll take me a day or two to rep everyone that has helped.

Especially Scutter with that insightful and over-the-top-helpful post of his...Too bad I can't rep it twice.

You will know it works because when you turn on the computer you may be able to boot it off of the HD in the enclosure showing it works.

You may have to hit a button to have you select "Boot Options" and then select the USB HD. If that doesn't work go into the BIOS and see if you can find the HD on there, if you can't then the HD may be broken.

 

[Benny]

You will know it works because when you turn on the computer you may be able to boot it off of the HD in the enclosure showing it works.

You may have to hit a button to have you select "Boot Options" and then select the USB HD. If that doesn't work go into the BIOS and see if you can find the HD on there, if you can't then the HD may be broken.

So it doesn't act like an external HD that I plug into the USB drive once it's in the enclosure?

 

[varasha]

So it doesn't act like an external HD that I plug into the USB drive once it's in the enclosure?

It will if you plug it into a system that has an OS on it. Most Motherboards will search for and OS on external drives if it fails to find one on an internal HD, or the optical drive.

If it doesn't auto look for the OS on the external, there is normally an option in the BIOS to boot from USB.

Without knowing the make and model of the computer or motherboard it is hard to give advise without being confusing..:P

Hopefully i have given enough ideas to help you figure it out for yourself..

 

[iwearcowboyboots]

So it doesn't act like an external HD that I plug into the USB drive once it's in the enclosure?

It will act like a removable drive while plugged into your other computer via the USB enclosure. The only way your computer would try to boot to that drive is if your motherboard BIOS allows you to boot to USB drives. By default, it will boot to your PCs drive and then just bring up the USB enclosure as another drive.

 

[Benny]

Well I ran it like an external HD and it shows up under "computer," but when I click on it, it just freezes. I tried it on two different computers.

 

[IncendiaryGunner]

When the original drive is installed, and you power up the machine, does it make any "clicking" noises?

Dropped head maybe?

 

[Benny]

When the original drive is installed, and you power up the machine, does it make any "clicking" noises?

Dropped head maybe?

None that I can hear.

Later tonight after I'm done playing on the internet I will take the HD out of my computer and try it in her's.

 

[public servant]

I got mine apart in record time...

Is your fixed yet?

 

[Benny]

Where can I download Windows Vista Home Premium for free?

I have the serial #.

 

[IncendiaryGunner]

Assuming it is a Dell (from earlier pic), you should be able to request a free set of backup discs.

https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form

The only version of Vista that is legally distributed is the "upgrade" version, and I believe it requires an earlier version of Windows to be installed.

 

[Benny]

Assuming it is a Dell (from earlier pic), you should be able to request a free set of backup discs.

https://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form

The only version of Vista that is legally distributed is the "upgrade" version, and I believe it requires an earlier version of Windows to be installed.

That's what I was afraid of...I was pretty sure I could get them sent to me from Dell for free, but I'm just trying to speed this up.

I have a woman constantly nagging in my ear about not having her computer(and pouting when she's not nagging).

 

[sepe]

Since you have the serial #, you could download an .ISO and use Active ISO burner or ImgBurn. Putting Vista on a dvd would just be like having a backup copy since you do have a legit serial #.

 

[Benny]

Since you have the serial #, you could download an .ISO and use Active ISO burner or ImgBurn. Putting Vista on a dvd would just be like having a backup copy since you do have a legit serial #.

I was looking for an .ISO file...Windows Home Premium Edition OEM SP1.

If you know where to find it, please tell me.

 

[snowman46919]

I will hit you up with the image file tomorrow I am on my way to bed at the moment.

 

[Benny]

I will hit you up with the image file tomorrow I am on my way to bed at the moment.

That would be awesome.

 

[snowman46919]

Good news is I remembered to look, bad news is I don't have the home version of anything. If you do call dell about the recovery disks I recommend calling in the AM and be insistent but polite.