Any Computer Boffins Out There, I Need Help

[FireflyKeith]

Right i have got an old Dell Latitude D410 laptop and for some reason the other night when i went to turn it on it would not boot up, even in safe mode, it would just not do anything >:( so i had a quick look on the internet to find a solution for my problem and most places said, hard drive failure and you need to re-load the windows disc, so i did this being the computer expert i am ::) ::) and now it seems i have lost everything i had on the damn thing so my question is, can i do anything to get back my pictures and other stuff that was on the hard drive

Cheers Keith

[Ex_Pat_Tanker]

Assuming that the hard disk still spins up you can get an external USB case and fit the disk into that (and plug it into your desktop pc).
After that its a bit of a lottery as to how much is left on the disk and if its readable.

[JTS]

Hi Keith


            Did you/ the DELL restore disk  re partition the drive when you re-installed Windows?

If so all files will be lost, if not you will be able to find the files but will have to re install any additional software (photo shop, MS office etc..).

I would suggest looking in your "C"drive/ local drive and see if you recognise any folders (leave the Windows folder well alone!).

I know HP makes a folder for storing all old files when you re install one of their machines unfortunately I can't say the same for DELL

Hope you have some luck in finding your photos


                                                              Jim

[Ex_Pat_Tanker]

If you can make it to the Luton meet at the end of Oct (and I get all my flights and US immigration BS straightend out) I can have a go recovering your disk :-\

[FireflyKeith]

I had a look on the "c" drive and there are no folders i recognise, i do remember seeing the word "partition" when we were reloading the Windows XP disc. It does start up as normal now but it does'nt even recognise the wireless adaptor for the internet and i have just been informed by the other half that we loaded XP HOME back on to the laptop and it was XP PRO before (whoops) :-[ can this get any worse

Keith :-\