Computer Hard Drive Question

[San Francisco Cy]

Ok, so my hard drive on my HP crashed about 6 months ago or so...maybe longer? Anyways, it really hasn't effected me until tonight, when I was getting ready to do my taxes. I thought I had copied my 2007 turbo tax return (I did not do it on-line. I did it from the disk). But, when I grabbed the disk, I only had 2004, 2005, and 2006 on it.

So, my question is how impossible is it to retrieve information from the hard drive. 2nd question is how expensive it is to do that? 3rd, I guess would be where would I take it?

 

[crash_zone]

Laptop or desktop? if it is a desktop, try sticking it in another computer (still boot off of the main drive), and see if there is anything there....unless it is dead - as in, wont power up, etc.

 

[San Francisco Cy]

Laptop or desktop? if it is a desktop, try sticking it in another computer (still boot off of the main drive), and see if there is anything there....unless it is dead - as in, wont power up, etc.

It is a laptop. It turns on, but just kinda clicks, trying to boot up...forever...

 

[TykeClone]

You might be able to hook it in a different machine and read from it (don't boot from it though). If the drive is relatively new, it's a SATA laptop drive and most new desktop machines will be able to connect.

If it's older, you'll need a converter cable to attach it to an EIDE connector.

 

[Clonehomer]

Check Turbo Taxes website. If you did it online you definately can get a copy there. If you did it with the software you still may be able to get it. I seem to remember when I switched from software to online it still had all of my old returns.

 

[San Francisco Cy]

You might be able to hook it in a different machine and read from it (don't boot from it though). If the drive is relatively new, it's a SATA laptop drive and most new desktop machines will be able to connect.

If it's older, you'll need a converter cable to attach it to an EIDE connector.

It depends on what you mean by new or old. I bought the laptop that crashed in 2005. It is HP. I have a new laptop that I bought about 3 months ago. Another HP. I also have an older desktop that could be used.

So, what exactly would I need to do this?

 

[cyclonedave25]

This happened to me a little while ago, my hard drive crashed, but it wasn't totally dead, just dead enough to not boot the comp. Anyways, I got an external hard drive case, pulled out my "bad" hard drive, plugged it into the case, and connected it to another computer. I was able to retrieve some info, but not all. External cases only cast ~$40-50 and you just plug it in and go. If you go this route, make sure you get the correct case, one that matches up with your harddrive.

 

[San Francisco Cy]

Hmm. Ok. That sounds easy enough. Though, I'm sure I will probably by the incorrect one at least once...

 

[San Francisco Cy]

Check Turbo Taxes website. If you did it online you definately can get a copy there. If you did it with the software you still may be able to get it. I seem to remember when I switched from software to online it still had all of my old returns.

I was on there, and checked around for awhile, and finally e-mailed them. They said that the only option for me, since I did not use on-line previously, was to contact the IRS. I would rather not draw attention to myself, since my taxes aren't exactly in line. :smile:

 

[Wesley]

This happened to me a little while ago, my hard drive crashed, but it wasn't totally dead, just dead enough to not boot the comp. Anyways, I got an external hard drive case, pulled out my "bad" hard drive, plugged it into the case, and connected it to another computer. I was able to retrieve some info, but not all. External cases only cast ~$40-50 and you just plug it in and go. If you go this route, make sure you get the correct case, one that matches up with your harddrive.

That might be the way to go.When I trashed our old computers I put the old harddrives in one of these boxes and the files read out fairly easy. I thought the box cost $30. I bought it from DIT Computers. Actually I own two of them.

 

[San Francisco Cy]

This happened to me a little while ago, my hard drive crashed, but it wasn't totally dead, just dead enough to not boot the comp. Anyways, I got an external hard drive case, pulled out my "bad" hard drive, plugged it into the case, and connected it to another computer. I was able to retrieve some info, but not all. External cases only cast ~$40-50 and you just plug it in and go. If you go this route, make sure you get the correct case, one that matches up with your harddrive.

Can you recommend a brand and/or where you got yours? Thanks for your help!

 

[mcnemat]

I sat my laptop on an ice pack for about 20 mins, then booted up in safe mode. I left the computer on the ice pack the entire time. I was able to get all the files I need. Once I took the ice pack of the hard drive and kept trying to work it crashed again. From what I understand when your HD gets hot it expands and starts to rub and not spin so well, by keeping it cool you can keep it from expanding.

It was the cheapest fix that I found and it worked.

 

[San Francisco Cy]

I sat my laptop on an ice pack for about 20 mins, then booted up in safe mode. I left the computer on the ice pack the entire time. I was able to get all the files I need. Once I took the ice pack of the hard drive and kept trying to work it crashed again. From what I understand when your HD gets hot it expands and starts to rub and not spin so well, by keeping it cool you can keep it from expanding.

It was the cheapest fix that I found and it worked.

I actually did try that once upon a time. However, I actually put the hard drive in a baggie in the freezer for 24 hours. Still no dice when I went to start it up again. I guess I could try that again one more time and let it set on the ice pack while trying it before giving up. Or, just use it while it sits in the freezer. ;-)

 

[cyclonedave25]

Can you recommend a brand and/or where you got yours? Thanks for your help!

I just went and picked one up at Best Buy, because I needed it ASAP. However, if you have time, you can find cheaper ones over the internet. As for brands, I'm not really sure on good ones, so I don't want to give out false information.

 

[cyclonedave25]

Can you recommend a brand and/or where you got yours? Thanks for your help!

Oh, P.S. - A good website I like to look at for computer hardware is.. Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!
Reasonably priced.
Like I said before, if you aren't sure on what kind of case matches up with your hard drive, you can take it into the best buy geek squad and they will tell you exactly what to get for free.

 

[San Francisco Cy]

Oh, P.S. - A good website I like to look at for computer hardware is.. Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!
Reasonably priced.
Like I said before, if you aren't sure on what kind of case matches up with your hard drive, you can take it into the best buy geek squad and they will tell you exactly what to get for free.

Thanks for the link. There looks to be some good options there. It's looking like this one would work for me?

Newegg.com - Eagle Tech I-280NA202U 80GB 5400 RPM 8MB Cache USB 2.0 pocket hard drive - External Hard Drives

 

[jbhtexas]

I would rather not draw attention to myself, since my taxes aren't exactly in line. :smile:

Your plan to not draw attention to your tax problem might have just swirled down the crapper. As of my post, 173 additional people know about your taxes...plus all the government agencies that snoop Internet traffic...

As for external drive cases, I have a couple of ICY DOCK eSATA enclosures from NewEgg, and they work very well...

 

[cyclonedave25]

Thanks for the link. There looks to be some good options there. It's looking like this one would work for me?

Newegg.com - Eagle Tech I-280NA202U 80GB 5400 RPM 8MB Cache USB 2.0 pocket hard drive - External Hard Drives

Actually, that looks to be an actual harddrive for storage. Unless I understood you wrong, all you need is an "external hard drive case." You just take out your hard drive and put it inside this case, plug it into a different computer with the provided USB cable, and get your files... if possible.

If this is what you need, try one of these. Again, make sure you get the right kind. (i.e. the size and interface)
Newegg.com - External Enclosure, External Hard Drive Enclosure, USB External Enclosure, Multimedia External Enclosure

 

[Bader]

Guess I didn't see whether you were able to retrieve the info from the drive.

A list ditch effort we use at work is to put the drive in a plastic bag and toss it in the freezer.

The idea is the metal will contract and whatever parts misalign will sometimes realign themselves. Be sure to put it in a sealed bag to prevent condensation.

Edit: Nevermind, I see you already tried that

 

[jumbopackage]

Sounds to me like the drive is dead. The clicking is the motor not turning the platter. Either the motor is shot, or the head is touching the platter. Neither is good. An external enclosure isn't going to help one bit (unless it was the laptop power supply that was the problem, which is very unlikely).

Your options? Send it to data recovery folks, who can probably get everything off of it. This can cost a few hundred bucks. Just google for data recovery. Ontrac is pretty reputable.

Your other option is to call the IRS and ask for a copy of your return