how can i retrieve my photos from broken laptop

[deedee24]

My laptop broke a few years ago, i just put it in the wardrobe for safe keeping cos i didnt want to throw it out incase someone could get my bank details from it. The computer wont turn on at all (even when charged) but all my little girls baby pictures are on there, I printed out my favourites at the time but then just left the rest on the laptop but now i cant access them and really want to so i can print them off otherwise i have no baby pics :-(
Can i do this or would it be best for a shop to do it? Would it cost much? Thanx in advance x
dee x

[Wak]

If the laptop is completely useless then it won't do any harm to try and remove the hard drive from it. The hard drive could then be put in a desk top computer as slave drive to the main drive and you would be able to remove all your files, etc. and save them either on the main drive or else a memory stick. If the lap top drive won't fit into a desk top comp then a shop could remove and save all the data for you.

[ChuckFickens]

An external USB caddy that would enable you to remove the laptop drive and connect it to your working computer VIA USB would cost about £15 on places like amazon and do what you need.

[deedee24]

cheers could you post a link to a website that would explain how i can do this step by step as im not very computer abled. thanx

[Wak]

If you want to try this yourself then I suggest you find the web site relating to the make of your laptop to see if they explain how to remove the hard drive. Removing the hard drive is the first thing you have to do.

[MarkRae]

There are data recovery specialists all over the UK who can do this for you. However, be prepared to pay a lot for their services. You've already employed that you're not a computer expert, so there's a chance (even with detailed instructions) that you might make things worse...

You don't provide any more details on what went wrong with the laptop other than "it broke", so it's difficult to give any concrete advice. However, if the hard disk is still in working order, it will be a simple thing to get the data off it...

[MarkRae]

*employed* - I mean, of course, *implied* - apologies...

[Rouffian]

Check ChuckFickens' advice. A simple USB Caddy is a piece of cake to use, and a dead cool toy if you end up with other dead drives. I have seen them for around $10 shipped.

All you need to do is remove your disk drive from the laptop (usually this is easy, but there's good advice all over the Internet), plug it into the USB Caddy plug that into your other PC and the PC will find the new device, which you can then browse like any hard drive or USB memory stick.

An idiot could do it. I did.

[MarkRae]

> A simple USB Caddy is a piece of cake to use, and a dead cool toy if you end up with
> other dead drives

For the record, a USB caddy will be of no use to you if you have a dead drive...

[TTG]

Usb caddy is sound advice. The drive might be fine. I've found this with a lot of "dead" kit.