My Bad

[RocketNut]

I dropped  my Alien 18 laptop and now it will not boot up. So is it possible to replace the HHD with a SSD with Windows 10 OS installed to get it to boot up. Then is there a way I can connect the old drive (as drive other then C, possible drive F) so I can recover my data files?

Thanks

Rocket Nut

[Boggin]

If the HDD has been impact damaged then it's unlikely data will be recoverable except by a specialist company and that would be costly.

You can get an USB enclosure you fit the HDD into to connect to the laptop after you get it back up and running, but see if it will boot up with a Win 10 install disk and that will eliminate any other damage.

If you don't have an install disk or USB then you can create bootable media by using the Download tool now button at https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10 but it will need to be done on a machine of the same architecture as you don't always get the choice to download a 32 or 64 bit version.

[RocketNut]

Using the drive in a USB enclosure to try to recover the data files is what I thinking of trying also. Since the lap top is about 6 Years old I have ordered a new machine (may be I can sell it on Ebay for parts to recover some of the cost towards the new machine). I will really miss the 18" screen of my old machine, I could only find 17" machines.

Your right  hiring recovery specialist company is extremely expensive, an WAY outside my budget/income.

Rocket Nut

[Boggin]

Hope you haven't lost too much data.

Did you check to see if it would boot up with a Win 10 install disk ?

I'm not sure if booting up with a Linux disk would get you access to the HDD, but if it won't spin then it will probably be beyond anything.

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

And other suggestions, but in either case you would need an external HDD to copy the data onto.

https://www.thetechmentor.com/posts/how-to-recover-data-from-a-crashed-hard-drive/

[RocketNut]

I think it is spinning up because it looks like it's trying to boot up. It boots until the windows icon appears and the working circle of dots appears, then the dots stop being displayed, only the windows icon shows, and just sits there with the hard drive light blinks at very slow rate. Also running diagnostic says did not find any thing wrong with the disk!!!

We will see when the new machine comes it and making this drive as a USB drive if I can recover any data. Keep your fingers crossed.

Rocket Nut

[Boggin]

I wonder if something else has been damaged then....

What diagnostics did you use ?

[RocketNut]

I don't remember the diagnostics I used. I contacted Dell an had me run the diagnostics. I think it used the F12 function during BIOS boot up. I took almost an hour to check every thing. It came up with no errors. Dell wants me to send the laptop to one of there repair centers. Which means they would replace the HD, losing my data, not to mention the cost quoted at $450. Again like I said the machine is 6 years old it's time to replace with latest an greatest machine.

Rocket Nut

[Boggin]

Have you checked to see if it will boot up with a Win 10 install disk ?

[RocketNut]

I don't have Windows 10 install disk. When I bought the machine it came with Win 7 then when when the free Win 10 came out I upgraded to it.

[Boggin]

I don't know what you are using to post with but if you have access to another computer, go back to my Reply #1 for how to create bootable Win 10 media.