laptop dead - need data

[drashish]

hello,
I run a small business off my laptop. After 2-3 "warnings" - false alarms that after moving the powercord around would correct itself. The laptop will no longer turn on. It's a Dell d600 that I've had for 3 years.

The powercord transformer light no longer comes on. The joint was slightly frayed so I bought a replacement pwoer adaptor from radioshack that is a universal adapter and is supposed to work for d600 (it says so on the product lableing). but it still does not power on.

I need to get the data off this laptop and fast. Any ideas on how I can do it since it won't powerup for me to backup? Alternative way to power up computer, remove harddrive and put into 3rd party reader, etc (don't know if these exist) but I'm dreaming, actually nightmares.

 

[kmcferrin]

Buy a 2.5" external hard disk chassis that connects via USB, remove the hard drive from the laptop, put it in the chassis, then connect it to another PC via USB.

 

[IllogicallyLogical]

The issue may be with the power connection on the motherboard itself. When you plug the power cable into the laptop, is it a secure connection or does it wiggle around a little? You could always take that to a technician to check out if you are not comfortable with computer hardware. Anyways, to get your data off you could get an external 2.5" HDD enclosure. Pull the drive out of the laptop (your computer manual should have instructions on how to do this) and throw it in the enclosure. Then connect the enclosure to another computer via USB and pull the data off. Here is a link to some enclosures.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=2781&

Joey
CCNA, MCP, A+, Network+, Wireless#

 

[G0AOZ]

The l.e.d. in the PSU will usually illuminate when mains power is applied to the unit. If it fails to come on whether or not the laptop is connected, this suggests that the PSU is faulty. Try checking the low voltage lead with a voltmeter.

If the Radioshack unit doesn't appear to work either, check to see that it is rated the same dc voltage output as your Dell original, and that current (Amps) is the same or more.

As a last resort you could try removing the power lead to the laptop, remove its battery, then press and hold down the laptop's power-on button for 30 seconds. Reconnect everything and try turning it on.

However, I suspect there might be something amiss in the laptop's power input circuitry which is/has short-circuited both those PSUs...

Follow kmcferrin's advice re hard drive.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[wahnula]

Buy a 2.5" external hard disk chassis that connects via USB, remove the hard drive from the laptop, put it in the chassis, then connect it to another PC via USB.

DO THIS FIRST!!! If you care about the data that is...they are cheap and available everywhere. When you remove the Hard Drive check to see if it's IDE or SATA...then buy the corresponding case. Here's one source:

http://www.directron.com/lapenclose.html

Tony

 

[kmcferrin]

Definitely get a copy of the data first. The chassis/enclosure will probably cost around $20, but if you start messing around with the PSU it might be possible to actually damage the drive.