Can I recover data on a hard disk?

Q My daughter’s laptop stopped working after an incident with her baby and an upset stomach (I’m sure you can work it out). Is there any way I can connect her computer’s hard disk drive to my PC to salvage her files?

Mike Habbershaw

A As long as the hard disk itself is undamaged, then the answer is yes, though you may need some extra equipment. If the laptop is relatively new, it will almost certainly use a 2.5in Sata hard disk and, despite the smaller size, this uses the same data and power connections as the 3.5in Sata drives used in modern desktop PCs.

So, if your desktop PC is also relatively modern and you are confident with a screwdriver, you just need to remove the laptop disk and make the necessary connections using the spare cables inside your PC – the disk will then appear as usual in Windows and you can copy the files.

If the laptop disk is the older Pata type, or you have an old PC that uses Pata rather than Sata, or you also use a laptop rather than a desktop PC, this solution won’t work. Instead, you will need an external disk adapter to connect the drive to your PC’s USB port – this also has the advantage of cutting down on screwdriver use.

External adapters for both Pata and Sata 2.5in hard disks cost around £20 and are available online, and on the high street from stores such as Maplin.

If the laptop drive is of reasonable capacity, you could instead buy a similarly cheap 2.5in hard disk caddy to convert it into a portable hard disk. You will still be able to rescue your daughter’s data by connecting it to a USB port, but she will then be able to use the drive for backups if she gets another computer.