[FutureWoWplayer]

I've gotten much need help here in the past and I always seem to find my way to this site for help. I came home the other night and my laptop was extremely hot. I also noticed that it had restarted and was not showing a screen that said Hard Disk Failed - please install operating system on to the boot disk. I know I had an operating system on my computer when I left for work in the morning. But I came home and saw that. I shut the computer down, for a day to completely cool it off, but now with I boot it up, it goes straight to that screen and says Error 03f0. I really hope my hard drive isn't fried, as I have a ton of documents I need to get off the computer. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Chris

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In my opinion the hard drive is dead but you could try removing it from the HP machine and hook it to another PC to try to recover any files by using a device like this.

http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/B001A5SK56

Even after trying the device you may still be unsuccessful.

[Wolfeymole]

In my opinion the hard drive is dead but you could try removing it from the HP machine and hook it to another PC to try to recover any files by using a device like this.

http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/B001A5SK56

Even after trying the device you may still be unsuccessful.

[phillpower2]

I hope you don`t mind me chiming in folks

If you have access to another computer for downloading/burning etc you could try Puppy Linux to see if you can secure your data, let us know if you would like the directions for this FutureWoWplayer.

There is a good chance that the HDD is already hosed but as an outside chance that it isn`t 100% bad I would leave any HDD testing until you have at least tried to retrieve your data from the device.

[FutureWoWplayer]

I wouldnt mind retrieving the data or trying to retrieve the data. Just let me know what I need to do. I have a lot of important documents that I need to get off the computer so anything I can do would be awesome.

[phillpower2]

Please refer to the Puppy tutorial below;

===================
***Required Hardware***
CD Burner (CDRW) Drive,
Blank CD,
Extra Storage Device (USB Flash Drive, External Hard Drive)
===================

1. Save these files to your Desktop/Burn Your Live CD:

• Download Latest Puppy Linux ISO (i.e.: lupu-528.iso)
  Download BurnCDCC ISO Burning Software
  
  There are instructions on how to boot from flash drive with puppy here; http://www.pendrivel...e-from-windows/
  
  
• Open BurnCDCC with Windows Explorer
• Extract All files to a location you can remember
• Double Click BurnCDCC
• Click Browse and navigate to the Puppy Linux ISO file you just downloaded
• Open/Double Click that file
  IMPORTANT: Adjust the speed bar to CD: 4x DVD: 1x
• Click Start
• Your CD Burner Tray will open automatically
• Insert a blank CD and close the tray
• Click OK

Puppy Linux Live CD will now be created
2. Set your boot priority in the BIOS to CD-ROM first, Hard Drive Second

• Start the computer/press the power button
• Immediately start tapping the appropriate key to enter the BIOS, aka "Setup"
  (Usually shown during the "Dell" screen, or "Gateway" Screen)
• Once in the BIOS, under Advanced BIOS Options change boot priority to:
  CD-ROM 1st, Hard Drive 2nd
• Open your ROM drive and insert the disk
• Press F10 to save and exit
• Agree with "Y" to continue
• Your computer will restart and boot from the Puppy Linux Live CD
  
  

3. Recover Your Data

• Once Puppy Linux has loaded, it is actually running in your computer's Memory (RAM). You will see a fully functioning Graphical User Interface similar to what you normally call "your computer". Internet access may or may not be available depending on your machine, so it is recommended you print these instructions before beginning. Also, double clicking is not needed in Puppy. To expand, or open folders/icons, just click once. Puppy is very light on resources, so you will quickly notice it is much speedier than you are used to. This is normal. Ready? Let's get started.
  
  3a. Mount Drives
• Click the Mount Icon located at the top left of your desktop.
• A Window will open. By default, the "drive" tab will be forward/highlighted. Click on Mount for your hard drive.
• Assuming you only have one hard drive and/or partition, there may be only one selection to mount.
• USB Flash Drives usually automatically mount upon boot, but click the "usbdrv" tab and make sure it is mounted.
• If using an external hard drive for the data recovery, do this under the "drive" tab. Mount it now.

3b. Transfer Files.

• At the bottom left of your desktop a list of all hard drives/partitions, USB Drives, and Optical Drives are listed with a familiar looking hard drive icon.
• Open your old hard drive i.e. sda1
• Next, open your USB Flash Drive or External Drive. i.e. sdc or sdb1
• If you open the wrong drive, simply X out at the top right corner of the window that opens. (Just like in Windows)
• From your old hard drive, drag and drop whatever files/folders you wish to transfer to your USB Drive's Window.

For The Novice: The common path to your pictures, music, video, and documents folders is: Documents and Settings >> All Users (or each idividual name of each user. CHECK All Names!) >> Documents >> You will now see My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos.

Remember to only click once! No double clicking! Once you drag and drop your first folder, you will notice a small menu will appear giving you the option to move or copy. Choose COPY each time you drag and drop.

YOU ARE DONE!!! Simply click Menu >> Mouse Over Shutdown >> Reboot/Turn Off Computer. Be sure to plug your USB Drive into another working windows machine to verify all data is there and transferred without corruption. Congratulations!





If you're doing this to recover from a virus or malware infection, (or even if you're not), DO NOT copy executable files (.exe, .scr. etc...) if any of these files are infected you could be copying the corruption over to any new device/computer. just copy documents, pictures, music, or videos.

Good luck and let us know how you get on with it.