Getting data off a laptop drive

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Hi all!!

My mate rang me in a panic at an ungodly hour to say she'd managed to spill coffee on her laptop and it won't boot. I've not had chance to look at the machine yet but pessimist that I am;
I've already got a 2.5 to 3.5 IDE adapter cable, how would I go about getting the data I need to save of the hard drive? I know she's specifically got to save some college coursework that wasn't backed up (she's got most of it on USB sticks), will I need her windows logon password to get to the files when I get the drive plugged into another machine?

I moved house this weekend so all my books are boxed up and it's hectic as anything at work so I can't even get 5 minutes to have a google for info (it's taken me nearly half an hour just to get this post done!!).

Any help or advice gratefully recieved as always guys!!

Lord Deckard.

 

Good morning Lord Deckard

What a shame her laptop was not spill proof! I know some are like the acer ones!

Anyway what type is is Make, model can you give us any details. Also are you sure it's ide? most laptops are SATA?

 

Nah, don't think it will be encrypted, she's not that technical! Just a case of finding the right directory and copying data from there then?

Ucheekymonkey: I know its an elonex and about 4 years old so I really am flying in the dark I'm afraid.

Many thanks AJ, I should have guessed it would be that simple but my brains still a bit fuzzy after a glancing blow from a falling tumble dryer that managed to then destroy the pop off panel for my car stereo. I hate moving house, definitely not my best weekend!!

 

AJ is spot on there! I was just about to say the same thing, might be an idea to check the HD is not flagstoned. By this I mean "The internationally approved, pioneering range of FlagStone Fully Encrypted Hard Drives offer unparalleled lines of defense against the loss or theft of Data at Rest from any laptop, desktop or tablet computer. " Source

We have these at work on the Dell Laptops and if you get the password wrong then your stuffed!

 

Moving house eh? Ouch! that is a head jack, specially when you've got other things on the go

Blimey a elonex didn't know they were still making computers until I found their website?

Anyway good luck mate

 

You may need to take ownership of the folder before you can access the files.