How to Back Up Data From a Dead Computer to a New One

Keep your cool and salvage your precious data from a dead computer.

Your data does not have to die with a failing hard drive. As long as the drive is still in working order, you can back up your data from the old drive to a new one. If the drive is damaged and a full backup is not possible, you may be able to retrieve some, many or all of your most important documents, pictures and music. Learn how to retrieve data from a computer that won't boot.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Dead computer
• Working computer
• Backup media (flash drive, CDs or DVDs)
• Anti-static wrist strap
• Screwdriver

1. Ground yourself with an anti-static wrist strap. Then open up the dead computer by removing the screws holding the cover in place using your screwdriver. Look inside the computer and locate the hard drive.

2. Open the working computer's case and locate its hard drive. Jot down notes on how the drive is installed and how the various cables are connected to it.

3. Remove the hard drive from the working computer using a screwdriver. Most drives are held in place by four to six small screws. Pull the drive out of the computer and set it aside.

4. Pull the hard drive from the dead computer and move it over to the working computer. Hook up the cables just as they were connected before. If the drive does not fit in the bay, you can set it down inside the computer, as this is not a permanent installation and the drive will be connected for only a short time.

5. Boot up the working computer. If it does not boot, recheck the cables and try rebooting. If the computer still won't boot, the hard drive may be damaged. Contact a data retrieval service for professional help recovering your data, but be aware that these services are very expensive.

6. If the computer boots, immediately locate the files on the hard drive that you want to save. Have your backup media, such as a flash drive or optical discs, handy. Connect the flash drive to your computer or insert a blank disc in the drive to continue.

7. Launch Windows Explorer. Drag and drop files from the hard drive onto the backup media until all the folders, files, photos and videos that you want to back up have been saved. Navigate to the backup media in Windows Explorer to make sure that your files have been copied correctly.

8. Remove the flash drive or backup discs once you have finished copying files. Turn off the computer, remove the hard drive and re-install the drive that you initially removed from the computer.

9. Reboot the computer. Check the cables and other connections if the computer does not boot as expected.

10. Copy your backed up data from the flash drive or discs to the computer. Launch Windows Explorer and repeat the drag-and-drop process you used earlier. You can restore documents, music, pictures and videos in this way. Any software installed on the dead computer will have to be manually re-installed from the product CDs or downloaded files.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have a spare computer, ask a friend or colleague to lend you one for a few hours, or consider buying a cheap computer from an online source or a local retailer.

• Avoid working on your computer in areas prone to static electricity, such as carpeted rooms. Always use an anti-static wrist strap before you work inside a computer.

• Never open the case on a computer that is still under warranty. Take the computer in for free service.

• Allow a full day for this project if you are not familiar with computers.