Dead laptop, how do I recover HDD data?

[N.H.B]

Guys I have a dead laptop and I need my stuff off the hard drive. The laptop is/was an HP pavilion ZD8000. I have read about HDD enclosures, is this what I need?

Basically I need to recover and be able to read emails off the hard drive, I think the HDD is 2.5 type.

[3 of 7]

All your going to need is a 2.5 to 3.5 ide adapter so you can hook it up to a desktop.... Shouldn't be any more than about ten bux

[Rick_EE]

Yes, you could also buy a 2.5 inch usb enclosure. I have been finding doing this very handy for backups and such.

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!

[N.H.B]

Thanks guys.

I had my wife pick this one up at best buy, will it work?

Rocketfish™ - 2.5" Hard Drive Enclosure - RF-HD25

Im trying to figure out how to view my email from the laptop hdd now. I have the laptop hdd in the rocketfish enclosure now and trying to locate the outlook stuff for email.

[3 of 7]

Originally Posted by N.H.B

Thanks guys.

I had my wife pick this one up at best buy, will it work?

Rocketfish™ - 2.5" Hard Drive Enclosure - RF-HD25

Im trying to figure out how to view my email from the laptop hdd now. I have the laptop hdd in the rocketfish enclosure now and trying to locate the outlook stuff for email.

go to
C:\Documents and settings\username\Local Settings\application data\identities\randomcharacters\Microsoft\Outlook Express\
Copy all the files and folders into the same folder on another machine ( Back those up first or you'll loose all the emails on the new machine)
The new machine will have a different set of randomcharacters in the one level of folders, but don't worry about it, just copy the lowest level over.
BTW you have to actually create an email account on the new machine first or you won't have the proper folder structure.

Yes, the usb drive enclosure is a great idea, and you'll have it for backups later..

[ctal]

That would be for Outlook Express, but he said "Outlook" in his previous post. If he really meant Outlook, the thing to do is search for .pst files(s), copy them to the new pc, and use Outlook's import function to bring them into the program.

-- Al

[jaketerminate]

You should try out The Ultimate Boot CD...

Ultimate Boot CD - Overview

Its kinda designed for system management, and it might help you recover those missing files with some of the tools it has.

[N.H.B]

Guys I freaking lost on what to do now. Both the desktop pc Im using now that I plugged the rocketfish enclosure into via a usb port (that has my laptop hdd placed in it) also has outlook express and so did the laptop that died on me.

When I go to the outlook express folder on my laptop hdd and click on it, it opens my desktop pc outlook express which show the emails I need. Please help, thanks.

[3 of 7]

Originally Posted by N.H.B

Guys I freaking lost on what to do now. Both the desktop pc Im using now that I plugged the rocketfish enclosure into via a usb port (that has my laptop hdd placed in it) also has outlook express and so did the laptop that died on me.

When I go to the outlook express folder on my laptop hdd and click on it, it opens my desktop pc outlook express which show the emails I need. Please help, thanks.

Follow the steps in post #5, make sure you go to the right folder.... there are similar folders that don't have the emails in them
http://www.abxzone.com/forums/f54/de...ml#post1400875

[N.H.B]

Originally Posted by 3 of 7

Follow the steps in post #5, make sure you go to the right folder.... there are similar folders that don't have the emails in them
http://www.abxzone.com/forums/f54/de...ml#post1400875

C: is my desktop pc hdd. I dont have 'username' after Documents and settings.

[ctal]

Originally Posted by 3 of 7

Follow the steps in post #5, make sure you go to the right folder.... there are similar folders that don't have the emails in them
http://www.abxzone.com/forums/f54/de...ml#post1400875

It might be preferable to first create a new identity in OE (under the File menu), and copy the dbx files from the external drive into the storage location on the desktop for that new identity. That way the emails that are originally on the desktop, and the emails from the laptop drive, could coexist on the desktop.

Got to run now. I'll try to be back here in a couple of hours, and go into more detail if need be.

-- Al

[3 of 7]

Originally Posted by N.H.B

C: is my desktop pc hdd. I dont have 'username' after Documents and settings.

"username" is the name of the account your using, it's not actually username , for instance, my username is Robert...
As for the existing files on the desktop, just make a copy of them somewhere and then copy over the originals, if you make multiple identities there could be more confusion about where to copy them. When your done, copy the originals back ( just the files and folders below C:\Documents and settings\username\Local Settings\application data\identities\randomcharacters\Microsoft\Outlook Express\

Make sure you don't change the randomcharacters folder or the prog won't recognize it.

[3 of 7]

On a side note your outlook address book is here

C:\Documents and Settings\Robert\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book

Just substitute your username for Robert

[N.H.B]

I guess what's killing me is after documents and setting then Larry (my name) there is not a Local Settings or application data folder on either the desktop pc hdd or the laptop hdd in the enclosure.

[ctal]

When you are navigating through those folders in My Computer, under "Tools" at the top of the My Computer window, select "Folder Options", then the "View" tab, then select "Show Hidden Files and Folders" and hit "OK." You probably have it set to hide Windows-related files and folders (which I think is the default).

-- Al