How do I retrieve data off my hard drive?

[KCHAR]

When It powers on it immediately starts to shut down. With it doing this, can I retrieve everything off my hard drive since I'm judt going to be getting a new one. I hadn't backed up in 25 days so I'm trying to get that most recent data.

[Skidmark]

It may not be the HD that is failing. Do you have another computer? Can you remove your HD, set it up as a slave, and run on another computer?

edit: Your best bet it to post in the computer forum. There are some really smart folks in there

[black2002ls]

laptop or desktop?

if it is a laptop, you will need an interface card to connect the HDD to a desktop computer. As for retrieving the data, as long as the HDD isn't fried, it should be able to be set up as a slave drive on a functioning computer and retrieve the important data that way.

[roliath]

download a livecd, like ubuntu or something see if sees your drive, mount it, get your data off.

Or I use this at work.

http://www.runtime.org/data-recovery-software.htm

Works pretty good.

or get a usb to sata dock/connector and connect the hdd to another pc.

[mustang_revival]

What those guys said. Last time i had a computer that kept immediately shutting down it was due to all the CPU goop being dryed up and CPU overheating. It shut itself down to keep from burning up.

[Jyard]

It may not be the HD that is failing. Do you have another computer? Can you remove your HD, set it up as a slave, and run on another computer?

edit: Your best bet it to post in the computer forum. There are some really smart folks in there

This is exactly what I did when my HD was failing. I didn't know it would actually work, but was pleasantly surprised.

[Tx Redneck]

Using one of these is my preferred method.

http://www.microcenter.com/product/285941/EZ-Connect_USB_to_SATA-IDE_Adapter

Saved and Texan by the Grace of God, Redneck by choice.

[Ratt]

Using one of these is my preferred method.

http://www.microcenter.com/product/285941/EZ-Connect_USB_to_SATA-IDE_Adapter

Saved and Texan by the Grace of God, Redneck by choice.

Agreed.

[roliath]

are you in garland or near the galleria? I have one of those cables Bryan posted that you can use.