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      • How to Slow Cook Venison Stew
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        • How to Build a Hide A Safe to Protect The Family Jewels
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        • How to Install Vinyl Mini Blinds
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      • Plumbing >
        • How to Repair Copper Pipes
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      • How to Administer a bitter pill to a Cat
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TomComKnowsHow
  • Home
  • Anti virus/Anti malware
    • How to Remove Keyloggers
    • How to Remove Conficker Malware
    • How to Remove Locky and AutoLocky Ransomeware for Free
  • How to Remove a Spyware Infection
  • Article Directory
    • How to Protect Computers using Free Version Antivirus Protection Software
    • Computer/Internet >
      • Audio/Visual >
        • How to Add a Cursor (Mouse Pointer) to a Print Screen Image >
          • Automotive >
            • How to Change Seized Up Spark Plugs
            • How to Change Automatic Transmission Filters
            • How to Do Auto Body Repair Work
            • How to Increase Fuel Economy
            • How to Install Truck Hitch Accessories/Attachments
            • How to Make a Poor Man's Fuel Heater
            • How to mix your own Fuel Additive
            • How to Replace a Door Panel
            • How to Replace Rear Leaf Springs
            • How to Tune-Up a Car Yourself
          • Business >
            • How to Appeal Denial of Unemployment Insurance Benefits
            • How to Create Order Forms
            • How to Perform Maryland Judiciary Case Searches Online
            • How to Promote your New Small Business
            • How to Recover Microsoft Office Professional for free
        • How to Convert qcp to wav
        • How to Create Watermark Protected Images
        • How to Crop a Print Screen Image
        • How to Disable your built-in Camera
        • How to Disable your built-in Microphone
        • How to Draw a Rose Bouquet
        • How to Print Digital Images Actual Size
        • How to Resize an Image to 424 X 282 Pixels, Without Distortion
        • How to Stream M3U's on Websites
      • How to Access a No Boot Hard Drive
      • How to Add Downloads to the Start Menu
      • How to Add a Hibernate Shortcut to your Windows Desktop
      • How to Add a Log Off Shortcut to your Windows desktop
      • How to Add a Restart Shortcut to your Windows desktop
      • How to Add a Second HDD (a Slave Drive) to your PC
      • How to Add a Shutdown Shortcut to your Windows desktop
      • How to Add a Standby Shortcut to your Windows desktop
      • How to Add Keywords to Your Website
      • How to Add Safe Mode to your Windows Boot Menu, by editing the BOOT.INI file
      • How to Backlink your online content
      • How to Block a Pinterest Follower
      • How To Comply with Amazon FTC Regulations
      • How to Connect to a Public WiFi Network
      • How to Create a Bookmarks Favicon
      • How to Create a Downloads Library in Windows Explorer
      • How to Create an active Click to Call Link
      • How to Create an h1 Header
      • How to Defragment the Paging File aka Virtual RAM
      • How to Disable sharing on Windows 7 and 8
      • How to Enable and Disable WiFi on Laptops and Tablets
      • How to Fix an Optical Scroll Mouse
      • How to Force Safe Mode on restart without editing BOOT.ini
      • How to Improve Computer Performance
      • How to Install a Bluetooth USB
      • How to Open Affiliate HTML Ads in New Tabs
      • How to Optimize your online content
      • How to Repair Windows Offline Help and Support
      • How to Replace a Dell Vostro 2510 LCD Inverter
      • How to Replace a Dell Vostro 2510 LCD Screen
      • How to Safely Eject ReadyBoost
      • How to Securely Wipe a Hard Disk Drive
      • How to Set Single-Click Customization on Desktop and Laptop Computers
      • How to Turn Num Lock on by Default in Windows 7 & 8
      • How to Tweet from a Flip Phone
    • Food & Drink >
      • Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Shiitake Mushrooms and roasted Bell Pepper
      • How to Bake a fantastic Zucchini Pie
      • How to Bake Candied Pecans
      • How to Bake Rosemary-Maple Glazed Pork Loin
      • How to Boil Eggs Without Cracking Shells
      • How to make Ramen Noodles more interesting
      • How to Make your own Chopsticks
      • How to scratch Hearty Turkey and Rice Soup
      • How to Slow Cook Beans & Rice with Sausage
      • How to Slow Cook Venison Stew
    • Health >
      • How to Build a Strong Freestanding Inversion Rack
      • How to Pack a Blood Specimen for Air Travel
      • How to Tell if you have Bed Bugs
    • Holidays & Celebrations >
      • How to Easter Egg Hunt with Candy Filled Eggs
      • How to Hang the American Flag
    • Home Improvement >
      • Concrete >
        • How to Apply/Repair Ornamental Mapping on Historic Field Stone Construction
        • How to Install a vented Glass Block window
        • How to Pour Concrete Footers for Jack Posts
      • Electrical >
        • How to Control Outdoor and Ceiling Lights with a Timer
        • How to Install a Breaker Panel Receptacle
        • How to Install a Switched Receptacle
        • How to Install Outdoor Motion Lights
        • How to Replace a Doorbell
        • How to Replace a Door Chime
        • How to Wire multiple lights on a Porch Circuit
      • Exterior >
        • How to Calculate a Roof Pitch in Degrees
        • How to Frame a Dormer
        • How to Install Vinyl Outdoor Swings
        • How to Install Vinyl Soffit
        • How to Paint Wood Doors
        • How to Reduce your Cooling costs by painting your Roof white
      • Interior >
        • How to Build a Hide A Safe to Protect The Family Jewels
        • How to Build Boxed Ceiling Beams
        • How to Frame Interior Walls
        • How to Install Crawl Space Insulation
        • How to Increase your Cordless Phone Range
        • How to Install Vinyl Mini Blinds
        • How to Remove Spray Foam Insulation From Hands
        • How to Resize an Interior Composite Hollow Core Door
      • Plumbing >
        • How to Repair Copper Pipes
        • How to Replace a Water Heater Thermocouple
        • How to Solder a Plumbing Joint
        • How to Stop Water Pipes From Vibrating
    • Pets >
      • How to Administer a bitter pill to a Cat
      • How to Administer subcutaneous hydrating fluids to an ailing Cat
      • How to Paper train a Green Iguana
    • Wildlife >
      • How to Escape from a Bear in the Woods
      • How to Field Dress a Whitetail Deer
      • How to Legally live-trap and relocate Squirrels in the State of Maryland
    • Yard & Garden >
      • How to Build a Concrete Outdoor Fire Pit
      • How to Build your own Pond
      • How to Change the Tire on a Riding Lawn Mower
      • How to Install a Chain Link Fence Gate
      • How to Seed Flagstone Walkways With Moss
  • Contact Me
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How to Access a No Boot Hard Drive

Picture
This tutorial explains how to recover files from a laptop computer hard drives which no longer boot up. This is a power on/no boot situation where the user-account files are not password protected, ie; no sign-in password required. A virus may have corrupted the boot record, but all is not lost. Using a "host computer", and either a Drive Dock or a Drive Adapter, you can access and recover your files.

You'll Need:
* A Host computer (desktop or laptop).
* SATA/IDE-to-USB Drive Enclosure


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1. Remove the non-bootable drive. This requires locating the correct access panel on the underside of a laptop or the sides of a desktop computer. You may need to release a catch or remove several screws to release the drive. Carefully, remove the power/data cables or ribbon, so as not to damage pins.

2. Insert the no boot drive into a USB Drive Enclosure connected to a host computer. Allow the BIOS to detect the "new hardware" and install applicable drivers.

3. Run a thorough antivirus scan of the no boot drive, before attempting to access it! In fact, if your antivirus software has a boot-time scan, schedule it before rebooting with the non-bootable drive connected. A computer virus may have corrupted the original boot record and you do not want to damage another one!

4. Access the no boot drive. When your computer sees the drive, it will assign a drive letter. Open any folder showing your drive directory on the left to see the new drive , if your computer does not open it automatically.

​5. Access your files on the no boot drive, by clicking on Users then on Admin or whatever your account name is. You will see the familiar directory tree showing your Documents, Downloads, Music and Photos.
​

6. Copy or cut and paste your files from the non-bootable drive to your bootable drive or to another USB storage device. You could transfer entire libraries at once, instead of moving smaller blocks of files. USB port speeds of 2.0 or 3.0 are preferable, for faster transfer rate.

7. Use the Safely Remove Hardware (and eject media) wizard before disconnecting the USB Drive Adapter or  Drive Docking Station via the icon in the notification area of the taskbar near the clock.

Tips:
* Desktop computers towers allow for two or more internal HD's, via data/power cables.
* Wipe/Reformat the non-bootable drive, after you have recovered your files (see related articles).
* Reprogram or save it as a secondary HDD. Windows 7+ automatically designates secondary HDD's as "slave." 
* Keep it in a SATA-to-USB drive enclosure, for removable storage/backup.

Warnings:
* Files in password protected accounts/files will not be accessible.
* Unplug the power supply/remove the battery, before opening your computer.
* Discharge static electricity by grounding yourself to the (metal) case.

Copyright 03/06/2015 All Rights Reserved. Questions? Comments? Contact Me
Related Articles:

How to add a second HDD (a Slave drive) to your PC
How to Securely Wipe a Hard Disk Drive

Copyright © TomComKnowsHow

  • Home
  • Anti virus/Anti malware
    • How to Remove Keyloggers
    • How to Remove Conficker Malware
    • How to Remove Locky and AutoLocky Ransomeware for Free
  • How to Remove a Spyware Infection
  • Article Directory
    • How to Protect Computers using Free Version Antivirus Protection Software
    • Computer/Internet >
      • Audio/Visual >
        • How to Add a Cursor (Mouse Pointer) to a Print Screen Image >
          • Automotive >
            • How to Change Seized Up Spark Plugs
            • How to Change Automatic Transmission Filters
            • How to Do Auto Body Repair Work
            • How to Increase Fuel Economy
            • How to Install Truck Hitch Accessories/Attachments
            • How to Make a Poor Man's Fuel Heater
            • How to mix your own Fuel Additive
            • How to Replace a Door Panel
            • How to Replace Rear Leaf Springs
            • How to Tune-Up a Car Yourself
          • Business >
            • How to Appeal Denial of Unemployment Insurance Benefits
            • How to Create Order Forms
            • How to Perform Maryland Judiciary Case Searches Online
            • How to Promote your New Small Business
            • How to Recover Microsoft Office Professional for free
        • How to Convert qcp to wav
        • How to Create Watermark Protected Images
        • How to Crop a Print Screen Image
        • How to Disable your built-in Camera
        • How to Disable your built-in Microphone
        • How to Draw a Rose Bouquet
        • How to Print Digital Images Actual Size
        • How to Resize an Image to 424 X 282 Pixels, Without Distortion
        • How to Stream M3U's on Websites
      • How to Access a No Boot Hard Drive
      • How to Add Downloads to the Start Menu
      • How to Add a Hibernate Shortcut to your Windows Desktop
      • How to Add a Log Off Shortcut to your Windows desktop
      • How to Add a Restart Shortcut to your Windows desktop
      • How to Add a Second HDD (a Slave Drive) to your PC
      • How to Add a Shutdown Shortcut to your Windows desktop
      • How to Add a Standby Shortcut to your Windows desktop
      • How to Add Keywords to Your Website
      • How to Add Safe Mode to your Windows Boot Menu, by editing the BOOT.INI file
      • How to Backlink your online content
      • How to Block a Pinterest Follower
      • How To Comply with Amazon FTC Regulations
      • How to Connect to a Public WiFi Network
      • How to Create a Bookmarks Favicon
      • How to Create a Downloads Library in Windows Explorer
      • How to Create an active Click to Call Link
      • How to Create an h1 Header
      • How to Defragment the Paging File aka Virtual RAM
      • How to Disable sharing on Windows 7 and 8
      • How to Enable and Disable WiFi on Laptops and Tablets
      • How to Fix an Optical Scroll Mouse
      • How to Force Safe Mode on restart without editing BOOT.ini
      • How to Improve Computer Performance
      • How to Install a Bluetooth USB
      • How to Open Affiliate HTML Ads in New Tabs
      • How to Optimize your online content
      • How to Repair Windows Offline Help and Support
      • How to Replace a Dell Vostro 2510 LCD Inverter
      • How to Replace a Dell Vostro 2510 LCD Screen
      • How to Safely Eject ReadyBoost
      • How to Securely Wipe a Hard Disk Drive
      • How to Set Single-Click Customization on Desktop and Laptop Computers
      • How to Turn Num Lock on by Default in Windows 7 & 8
      • How to Tweet from a Flip Phone
    • Food & Drink >
      • Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Shiitake Mushrooms and roasted Bell Pepper
      • How to Bake a fantastic Zucchini Pie
      • How to Bake Candied Pecans
      • How to Bake Rosemary-Maple Glazed Pork Loin
      • How to Boil Eggs Without Cracking Shells
      • How to make Ramen Noodles more interesting
      • How to Make your own Chopsticks
      • How to scratch Hearty Turkey and Rice Soup
      • How to Slow Cook Beans & Rice with Sausage
      • How to Slow Cook Venison Stew
    • Health >
      • How to Build a Strong Freestanding Inversion Rack
      • How to Pack a Blood Specimen for Air Travel
      • How to Tell if you have Bed Bugs
    • Holidays & Celebrations >
      • How to Easter Egg Hunt with Candy Filled Eggs
      • How to Hang the American Flag
    • Home Improvement >
      • Concrete >
        • How to Apply/Repair Ornamental Mapping on Historic Field Stone Construction
        • How to Install a vented Glass Block window
        • How to Pour Concrete Footers for Jack Posts
      • Electrical >
        • How to Control Outdoor and Ceiling Lights with a Timer
        • How to Install a Breaker Panel Receptacle
        • How to Install a Switched Receptacle
        • How to Install Outdoor Motion Lights
        • How to Replace a Doorbell
        • How to Replace a Door Chime
        • How to Wire multiple lights on a Porch Circuit
      • Exterior >
        • How to Calculate a Roof Pitch in Degrees
        • How to Frame a Dormer
        • How to Install Vinyl Outdoor Swings
        • How to Install Vinyl Soffit
        • How to Paint Wood Doors
        • How to Reduce your Cooling costs by painting your Roof white
      • Interior >
        • How to Build a Hide A Safe to Protect The Family Jewels
        • How to Build Boxed Ceiling Beams
        • How to Frame Interior Walls
        • How to Install Crawl Space Insulation
        • How to Increase your Cordless Phone Range
        • How to Install Vinyl Mini Blinds
        • How to Remove Spray Foam Insulation From Hands
        • How to Resize an Interior Composite Hollow Core Door
      • Plumbing >
        • How to Repair Copper Pipes
        • How to Replace a Water Heater Thermocouple
        • How to Solder a Plumbing Joint
        • How to Stop Water Pipes From Vibrating
    • Pets >
      • How to Administer a bitter pill to a Cat
      • How to Administer subcutaneous hydrating fluids to an ailing Cat
      • How to Paper train a Green Iguana
    • Wildlife >
      • How to Escape from a Bear in the Woods
      • How to Field Dress a Whitetail Deer
      • How to Legally live-trap and relocate Squirrels in the State of Maryland
    • Yard & Garden >
      • How to Build a Concrete Outdoor Fire Pit
      • How to Build your own Pond
      • How to Change the Tire on a Riding Lawn Mower
      • How to Install a Chain Link Fence Gate
      • How to Seed Flagstone Walkways With Moss
  • Contact Me
  • Amazon Deals
  • Zazzle.com/TomCom