windows 7 - read hard drive from dead laptop without formatting

05
2014-04
  • Steve Gazzo

    I recently pulled the hard drive from a laptop with a bad power supply, and have plugged it into my pc via a USB-SATA bridge. Both drives come from Windows 7 machines. Windows recognizes the drive as mass storage, but refuses to let me read it without formatting it first. I kinda don't wanna lose my data. Any advice?

    • Answers
  • user55325

    It could be (assuming the drive isn't physically damaged) the partition table is corrupt. You can use TestDisk to fix this, as well as recover partitions and files.

    Documentation examples:

    Step by step

    Data recovery examples

    Explanation of program options

  • matan129

    Usually when we see this type of situation the system can see the drive but does not recognize the file structure, so it will ask you to format it. This may be the result of the drive being formatted through a serial header attached to the buss. Going through the USB bridge is likely an incompatibility for the system's ability to read the drive. - Formatting it would fix it as far as the system knows, and it would work just fine.

    Your data is still most likely intact and can be accessed through a SATA interface attached to the buss. If you have access to a tower with that interface, try this. From my experience laptop power supply's are $20 on Ebay - no installation required.

    In the old days I have slapped drives from one laptop to another, we are not supposed to be able to do this though it has worked for me numerous times. The system just needs to load a new set of drivers - Win7?

    You may also have luck with a partition or recovery tool, there many available. I would give you a recommendation but it has been some time since I have played with one.

    Hope this helps


    • Related Question

    I swapped out the hard drive in my Western Digital Passport (2.5") enclosure and now it isn't showing up in Windows 7
  • th3dude

    I recently swapped out the drive in my 320GB Western Digital Passport with the 120GB (Toshiba) drive in my PS3 (slim).

    The 320GB drive works great in the PS3, but the 120GB drive isn't showing up in Windows 7.

    The USB connected icon/sound properly trigger (and the device manager shows it as a USB mass storage device), and the drive lights up and I can feel it running, but I can't see it listed as a drive.

    Any idea what's causing this and how I can get it running again? Could it be a power issue? Thanks.


    • Related Answers
  • 8088

    Most likely the disk isn't formatted yet. To do this simply right click on "My Computer" and go to "Manage".

    Manage

    Then under "Storage" right click on your drive and select "Format".

    Disk Management

  • Col

    Has it been formatted yet? I'm not sure what file system the PS3 uses but it may not be readable by windows.

  • webjedi

    Western Digital Passports are not currently supported in Windows 7 for some reason.

    Compatibility Chart

  • Area 51

    I had exactly the same problem, the only fix i found was if i lifted the drive in the air whilst connected and moved it around (like you would with an ariel to pick up a signal) then the PC suddenly recognises it and you can lay it flat again, must be a faulty connection somewhere.