Forum Discussion
How do I recover data from laptop hard drive that won't turn on?
Hi everyone, my laptop broke down recently. The power button didn't respond at all. It should be the motherboard or power supply that has a problem. However, the data in the hard drive is very import...
You usually don’t need a professional for this, especially since the hard drive itself isn’t the problem.
If the laptop won’t power on but the HDD is intact, recovering the data is straightforward.
Easiest DIY method (recommended)
Remove the hard drive and connect it to another computer.
What you need:
A USB-to-SATA adapter or a 2.5" HDD external enclosure (cheap and easy to use)
Steps:
- Power off the laptop completely
- Remove the HDD (usually under a bottom panel)
- Connect the HDD to another PC using the adapter/enclosure
- The drive should show up like a USB drive
- Copy your data normally
No formatting, no reinstall needed.
Alternative option
If you have a desktop PC:
- Connect the HDD directly to a SATA port inside the desktop
- Boot the desktop and copy the files
When you’d need a professional
Only consider professional recovery if:
- The drive is not detected at all
- You hear clicking or grinding noises
- The drive was physically damaged
That’s not your situation based on what you described.