I spilled 1/4 cup of coffee (w/ soy milk) on my laptop a few weeks ago. It shut down, and I've not been able to get it to even turn on since. I'm thinking I totally fried it. I can't afford to replace it or repair it, I'm not very financially stable. But I might be borrowing a laptop or desktop from a friend....I need the files off the laptop. How do I do this?
210406
For future reference, as soon as any computer device gets wet - REMOVE POWER and BATTERY ! \n If you have manual, remove battery and harddrive. There is a 40 pin IDE ( with 5V, GG, 12V adapter) to 44 pin laptop adapter available at most computer stores. This allows you to jumper your laptop drive as a SLAVE on a working computer ( Desktop), and just transfere the files. This assumes that the Desktop is newer and using the same or newer version of Operating System ( OS), ie win98, win2000, winME, winXP, etc.\n Leaving the battery in a wet machine allows the voltages to continually cook the chips. If you have the time, you can go online and look for technical diagrams on the laptop, and start taking it apart, carefully. If you clean the areas that were shorted with coffee, dry, and re-assemble, you have a "chance" that you can repair the thing... Most people do not have the tools or the patience to do this, but it is entirely possible to do.\n Putting the laptop drive in another laptop is a bad way to try to get files copied, since the new laptop will boot on the old hardware system files, and be very mixed up- the modem, the ethernet, the CD, and even the display with probably not work properly.... so what do you copy the files to???\n Since you now have nothing and nothing, putting the drive in a working desktop, using the adapter ( usuually a green circuitboard with two connectors on the ends ), is the best bet.\n Then work on getting the old laptop going. Take it apart slowly, and stick all screws to a piece of paper, numbering them, and putting little masking tape numbers where they go.\n good luck.
595523
i believe it would be time to invest in a new keyboard. if it was water you spilled, you would have been able to simply leave the keyboard facing down and let the water dry out, however, coffee is a stickier case. i once spilled soda on my keyboard and yeah... my keys stopped working.
660538
Several ways to go.  Get a new C drive, format it, make it bootable, put your OS on it (if you have no original disks you are in trouble) and them make the old C drive a D drive by playing with the jumpers, putting an extra set of connectors to the motherboard and playing with the BIOS at start up to see both drives.\n\nThen drag and drop files.\n\nAnother alternative requires a new C drive and for you to get an external hard drive box (Comp USA about $50) that connects via USB 2.0 or firewire.\n\nTry and drag and drop from this.\n\nI have a fried main drive in which the file allocation table is corrupted so only some files will transfer and if an attempt is made to move files from a corrupted spot it crashes the whole system.\n\nThe data is usually never corrupted, unless a virus was at work.  It is the FAT or file allocation tables that are having problems.  The biggest problem is that your data is NOT contiguous, in other words some if it is here, some of it is there and some of it is way, way, way at the end.  Called file fragmentation, which is why you need to de-frag every so often to collect all the "addendum" to your word files that get parked seven miles away from where the original document is stored.\n\nEveryone needs to back up their important files.  If you really have important stuff you need a RAID system (dual hard drives that store the same data on separate drives at the same time).\n\nIn this day and age of $80 hard drives I'd buy an external one and copy everything over via the USB port so you always have a backup -- including a back up of your OS and boot record!\n\nThe only things you generally can't copy are active  DAT files (e.g. USER.DAT, which is your boot up windows configuration that sets up your desktop) NAV and SWAP (windows virtual memory) files, which must be copied from COMMAND PROMPT or DOS MODE.
491504
Ignore the noobs who say nothing can be done.\n\nYou can try this software\nhttp://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/uk/download.htm\n\nOr, if you are prepared to pay real money, there are a range of professional 'data recovery' firms who can get data off almost any drive. Not cheap but possible.\n\n///
319753
hmm, is it a self contained hard drive or an internal one. If it is external, open the thing up and see if you can place it in your pc and use it... \nIf it is internal, you need to be more specific and give more info on how it crashed, if your pc still works, ect. It maybe that it fried, got damaged or somehow got corrupted. If you get no response from it at all( try the variables, changing cables, power outlet, turn on off, install/backup drivers), either consult a personal comp tech to take a look at it, since it's hard to diagnose, or get a new one. Sorry
148504
I had to do this too and I took it to Staples.  It didn't cost a lot and they backed up all my files and restarted everything.  Good Luck!!!
105612
There are software programs out there that you can download that you can use to try and retrieve some files.  Alternatively, you could send your hard drive to a lab to see what they can retrieve, but that would run $3000 or so.  If something happens where you can't shut down, then just pull the plug.  If this happens, then do not use the computer.  The more you use the computer, the less likely you are to be able to retrieve documents.  Use spyware software to remove programs like that when you see then.  Keep your windows updated to prevent them from being loaded in the first place. windowsupdate.microsoft.com
319800
I am an expert at keyboard disasters, I have spilled coffee in mine more than a couple of times...\nUnscrew the back. You should be able to get to the insides that way. I have heard rumors about how you can wash a keyboard in water as long as it dries thoroughly. The IT guy at my work says he has done it...Just make sure it is TOTALLY dry before attempting to use again. BTW, I get keyboards at the Goodwill for $1.99..doesn't hurt to have a spare just in case you are waiting for one to dry out.
570603
Use PC Inspetor File Recovery!!!\n\nYou can download it from http://www.downlaod.com
199485
Well it didn't exactly "rescue" me from troubles, but... I'll tell you my story.\nI have a Dell Inspiron notebook. All of a sudden, my hard disk purred and crashed! (I had WinXP Pro in the hard disk)\nOh great! what am I gonna do? I dont have any money to buy a new hard disk, and my dad is gonna kill me if he gets to know about this.\nI got an idea! I whipped out all the free DVDs I got with magazines and found one that had a GamesKnoppix ISO file. Took that DVD to a studio, and got the ISO burned to a CD-R.\nCame home, put in the CD, set the BIOS to boot from it, and voila! Linux-on-CD!\nI have a 64MB flash drive, so I made that a "mini-hard-disk" for my Live CD, so that I can store the settings and retrieve them the next time I boot Linux. I just need to enter a small instruction, and the OS automatically retrieves the settings stored there and applies them.\nLife's good with the Linux. I'm able to browse with Mozilla Firefox, chat with Gaim, edit HTML stuff with KWrite (it's so much better than Windows Notepad) and have fun checking out Linux and playing with Terminal. It's cool!\n\nBut I still miss Windows XP :((\n_______\nViva La Dvorak! - www.dvzine.org
215110
You have to make sure you eject it for safe removal to avoid corruption.  Some rescue applications may work. Support is best in XP and 2000, if you're using ME or 98, spend some money. Mac works fine as well.
162460
Answer this first please:\n\nDo you clear history and other files often?\nDo you use Disk cleaner often?\nDo you use pc for watching movies or having many images or audio files on Hard Drive?\n\nYou may have many software installed.\n\nIf non of above then best thing is, do back of important data then run Recovery. It will bring pc back to the new condition. BUT FIRST BACK UP PLEASE. \n\nYou should know how to backup email addresses and other files. If you are not sure do not delete or touch anything unless you can find some of your friend who can help you.\n\nStill need help just send an e-mail nihon94@yahoo.com
162347
What a really bad accident.  Try to hook up a USB or PS/2 keyboard and see if the keys respond to that.  You might need to go to a technician, but I don't even know if they can help.  In the worst case, you probably need to get any important data from the laptop's hard drive by removing it and hooking it up to a desktop.  Then reinstall everything from the BIOS on up.\n\nLesson to remember: always check how much battery power you have, or at least plug it into the wall if you're doing any installations or critical system tasks.
582630
There is a free program on the internet called DBAN - Darik's Boot and Nuke - this program can completely erase everything on your hard drive so that no one can recover it unless they are the government type and even then they may have to wait for new technology before they can access the information.\n\nThere are other programs as well and Darik's site has a list of some.\n\nTo address some other comments - formatting and/or repartitioning doesn't do anything to make the data really unrecoverable.  Even overwriting the existing data once or twice may not be sufficient (read the info on Darik's site and help files).  \n\nMagnets need to be REALLY powerful - I mean like lift a car powerful.  You don't buy these at the corner hobby shop, so unless you work in a junk yard or have a friend that does, forget this idea - and even then the proper tools can probably still recover the data.\n\nThe truly TOP SECRET stuff the government NEVER gets rid of - again, just because it's not possible today doesn't mean it won't be tomorrow.\n\nFor simply reinstalling your computer a format is sufficient.  See my sources for some links.
301477
It really depends on whether the hard disk is still accessible by the computer. If the computer can still read the contents of the hard disk (just that some sectors of the hard disk are spoiled), then you can try to search for disk recovery software.\n\nOtherwise (e.g. if the hard disk head is spoiled), you just have to send it to the professionals. They'd probably open up the hard disk (which you should never do at home because of highly possible contamination) and put it in another hard disk head, or use some powerful microscopes to figure out all the magnetic particles.
479443
Hmm, i think it's a dead end. Buy a new hard drive and do not buy Dell PCs next time, they are ready to blow up. Or try booting up in a few days, there may still be miracles. If so, quickly backup all data .
466080
Put the notebook to in a dry place for 1 week..then\nTry to see if it starts up if not....then\nYou can buy external 2.5" HD caddy cases, so that you can take the Laptop harddrive out and put it in the caddy and connect to any computer with a USB port to transfer your data.\n\nCould be a costly repair job, if you've not got accident cover