Hard Drive crashed, but dell convinced me some data might be able to be retrieved off the old one...where should I take it?

I searched google but that pops up about 1000 places to go.

7/24/2009 5:18:51 PM

define "crash"

you ready to shell out $1,000+?

7/24/2009 5:28:46 PM

just popped up an error message the other day saying something along the lines of "cant find internal hdd"

I've got the new one installed, and most of my stuffs on an external HDD, but there are a few things i want to see if they can be retrieved.

7/24/2009 5:29:57 PM

does it show up in the bios at all? if not.. you're gonna be paying big bucks.

7/24/2009 5:31:16 PM

cant remember. dont think so tho. just basically want to take it somewhere and see if its possible.....any computer stores recommended?

7/24/2009 5:33:14 PM

first you, or someone maybe on here, will want to hook it up externally and see if you can get it recognized at all, as a secondary drive. If you can do that, then maybe you can just use a data recovery program (~$100) to get the data yourself. If it doesn't spin-up or can't be recognized as an external drive using "amateur methods", then the pros might be able to do it, but again, will be over one-grand.

Give Intrex a call, and if they don't do it, they will recommend somewhere I'm sure
http://www.intrex.com/

[Edited on July 24, 2009 at 5:34 PM. Reason : .]

7/24/2009 5:33:24 PM

anyone wanna check it out for me first? Called Intrex and its $50 to even see if its possible, then up to $150 to retrieve data. I could throw someone a 6 pack for their troubles.

7/24/2009 5:40:16 PM

download knoppix, burn to CD, boot from CD, type knoppix 2 (or knoppix 3) at the boot menu, once loaded and you're at a command line. type: fdisk -l and see if there are any results. If so then we can help get the data off, unless the disk is completely hosed

7/24/2009 6:07:30 PM

i'll check it out for free if you want to drop it off (though i might be out tomorrow...i'll have my laptop and if you're close, you can meet me wherever i am and we can check it then)

7/24/2009 6:50:43 PM