Help with Laptop HD, might be broken

[Firelarz]

Hi gang, this is my first post and I need some help. I dropped my laptop and when I turned it back on, everything came on ok, then froze. I had to reboot and the windows screen came on, and then an error. I tried a few things and even called tech support. After reading them the trouble codes, they said the HD was gone. I since bought a new HD and an external sleeve to try to recover the info in the broken HD. After plugging it into the usb, it shows there is a drive there, but that is all. It shows 0 gigs of storage space. I have tried to copy the drive to the new one, but nothing seems to work. Aside from sending it out to one of the recovery companies, is there any other options for me? When you turn on the drive it makes clicking sounds.( i know that is not good)

Thanks Larz

Tech specs... Dell laptop, Win xp home, 40 gig hd

 

[wolluf]

suspect its dead - but you could try a data recovery app to see if that can 'see' anything. GetDataBack is much recommended here and spinrite is supposed to keep trying to recover data.

 

[micker377]

Get an adapter (2 1/2 to 3 1/2) to hook up the laptop hard drive to a desktop. See if you can read the laptop drive that way. Depending on the adapter, you might have to plug the drive into secondary master IDE plug.

 

[Firelarz]

I got an adapter to plug the broken hd into so I can read it from my laptop that has a new hd and op system in it. Is this ok or does it have to go to a desktop?

 

[micker377]

Are we talking about an adapter, or an external drive box? With an adapter (for IDE desktop), you have autodetect and can check the hard drive with the diagnostic program from the drive manufacturer.

 

[Firelarz]

It is an external HD box, connected through a usb. I am running get data back right now trying to make an image, we will see in about an hour if that works.