Recover Data Yourself

• 1). Unplug the computer from electricity by disconnecting the power cable from the power supply. This is usually located at top of the back of the case.
  
  
• 2). Remove the hard drive from the motherboard. Locate the hard drive that will not boot up and remove the SATA cable, which connects the hard drive to the motherboard, and the power cable, which connects the hard drive to the power supply. You will likely need to remove only these two cables.
  
  
• 3). Unscrew the hard drive. Using a demagnetized Phillips screwdriver made specifically for computer repair, remove all the screws. The hard drive should now be completely loose and will easily slide out of the computer case.
  
  
• 4). Place the hard drive into an external USB hard drive enclosure. Plug the hard drive into the power supply and SATA cables included with the enclosure.
  
  
• 5). Plug the external hard drive enclosure into the USB port of a second computer. You can do this while the computer is running. In a few seconds you will receive notification that the computer recognizes the hard drive.
  
  
• 6). Go to the "My Computer" icon and click on the icon for the hard drive you have just connected. If the data you are trying to recover shows up, copy and paste it to the hard drive of the second computer.
  
  

Seek Outside Help

• 1). Try data recovery software if your data does not show up. With the hard drive connected to the second computer, log onto the Internet and look for a data recovery software application such as "Boomerang Data Recovery" or "Recover My Files."
  
  
• 2). Download and install the data recovery software on the second computer. Follow the directions you received with the software to attempt data recovery on your hard drive.
  
  
• 3). Find a local or Internet-based professional data recovery service, such as Salvage Data or Data Recovery Services, if you are still unable to recover your data. Professional services are often able to recover data that consumer software cannot.
  
  
• 4). Send in your hard drive. Plan to wait at least two weeks' turnaround time.