Your old laptop sits in a corner, neglected, after years of loyal service. Its cracked screen, worn-out battery or perhaps a hard drive in need of replacement have rendered it unusable, but your data is still there. Family photos, business documents or other precious memories… there’s nothing more frustrating than thinking it’s all gone. Fortunately, recovering your data is not a mission impossible. There’s a simple solution for recovering your files and backing them up to a safe place. In this article, I explain how to recover your files from a laptop that no longer works.
Prerequisites for recovering data from an old PC :
- A precision screwdriver
- SATA or NVME cable (depending on hard disk)
- Another computer for data recovery
Start by opening your computer and looking for the internal hard drive.
To begin your quest for data recovery, the first step is to get your hands on the heart of your old PC: its internal hard drive. This is where your files reside, safe and sound… or almost! Rest assured, accessing this component is often simpler than it looks.
Step 1: Open your computer case
Take a suitable screwdriver (precision screwdriver) and carefully open the rear cover of your laptop. It’s usually a plate held in place by a few screws, but if you can’t find access, a quick search on your PC model will guide you. Once you’ve removed the cover, you’ll see an array of electronic components, including your target: the internal hard drive.
Step 2: Identify the type of hard drive
Not all hard disks are alike. Depending on the age and configuration of your PC, you’ll come across one of two main formats:
- NVMe M.2 disk (left): a small rectangle that looks more like a RAM strip.
- SSD SATA or HDD (right): a larger, flatter, generally rectangular case.
Once you’ve identified the disk, all you have to do is disconnect it. Take a good look around: there are screws holding the disc in place. Unscrew them carefully, then gently disconnect the disc from its connector without forcing it. Bear in mind that it’s fragile, so take it easy!
Now that you’ve got your hard disk in hand, you’re ready for the next step: extracting your data using the right tools.
Access data stored on your internal hard drive from another PC
Once you’ve extracted the hard drive from your old laptop, it’s time to access your data from another computer. Fortunately, with the right tools and a bit of method, it’s child’s play!
Step 1: Connect the hard drive to another computer
To do this, you’ll need a USB adapter or dock compatible with the type of hard drive you’ve removed:
- For an NVMe M.2 disk, use an NVME M.2 adapter or an external enclosure suitable for this format.
- For a conventional SSD or HDD, a SATA-to-USB cable or an external hard drive enclosure will do the trick.
Simply connect the hard drive to your computer via a USB port and it will appear as a new storage device in File Explorer.
Disk inaccessible: The absence of a drive letter can prevent access to files 👈 Read our article on the subject.
Step 2: Access Windows user files
Your personal files are located in the ‘Users ‘ folder at the root of your hard disk. Here’s how to access them:
Open File Explorer: Click on the folder icon in the taskbar, or use the Windows shortcut + E.
In the left-hand section of Explorer, find the hard disk you’ve just connected. Click on it to open it.
E:\Utilisateurs\VotreNomUtilisateur\Inside the user folder, you’ll find the usual directories :
- Documents
- Images
- Downloads
- Music, etc.
Once in the user folder, you can copy your files to your computer’s main hard disk or to an external storage device. Make sure you back up all directories so you don’t lose anything!
And voila, your precious data is now safe. 😊
Common error : You are not authorized to access this folder
You’ve just connected a recovered hard drive to another computer, but now Windows is blocking access with this frustrating message: “You do not have the required permissions to access this folder.” Don’t panic! This problem often occurs when the disk comes from another system or user, and it’s perfectly possible to get around this blockage. Follow these steps to regain control of your files.
Why does this error appear?
When Windows protects a user’s data, it assigns permissions to folders and files. If you connect the disk to another computer, or if the original user profile no longer exists, the system considers that you don’t have the necessary rights to access it. Fortunately, simply taking possession (inheriting) of the folder solves this problem.
Right-click on the blocked folder and select Properties.
Go to the Security tab and click on Advanced.
Then click on Activate inheritance (if deactivated).
Check the box Replace all child object permissions with permissions inherited from this object at the bottom.
Click OK to apply the changes.
In just a few clicks, you’ll be able to access your files with ease!
Find out also, what are the signs of a failing hard disk.
To recover blocked data on a broken computer, extract the internal hard drive, connect it to another computer using a compatible adapter, then access the files via File Explorer. If permissions are blocking access, change them in the folder properties by enabling inheritance and assigning full rights to your user.
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