Recover emails, files, and data from a crashed hard drive or computer

By Mitz

Free computer Tips

Everyone I know dreads the day when their computer might crash because they haven’t quite got around to backing up the emails, files and general data from it. In fact when it does happen, and I tell them that I can recover  the information off the hard drive of a crashed computer, they are surprised. I would say 80% of people I see do not know that their files can be recovered and seriously think they are gone forever.

Even when you computer has crashed and is not working you can still recover most emails, files and data. And it is very simple to do so in most cases you will not have to take it to a IT repair guy. You just have to know where the files are kept and how to recover them.

Recover emails, files, and data from a crashed hard drive you will need:

1. A computer that has crashed. To get it going again costs more than a new computer.
2. A hard drive in the computer that didn’t get harmed by the crash. What is a hard drive, you say? Its the piece of hardware that stores all the files and data for the computer.
3. Another working computer with a USB connection.
4. An external hard drive case to put the old hard drive in. What is an external hard drive?

How to Recover files from a hard drive from a crashed computer:

1. Firstly you will have to remove the hard drive. Make sure the power is not connected. If you have not done this before see How to remove and upgrade a hard drive
2. Place your hard drive into an external hard drive case while there is no power connected. After sealing the hard drive case tightly, then plug it into the computer.
3. Turn the external hard drive on and the computer should find it automatically.
4. Go to my computer and open up the new drive that will appear there. C drive is the main hard drive of the computer so it could be E<F<G depending on how many other drives are installed.
5. Copy the files you want and paste them to another hard drive. Watch this video tutorial on how to cut, copy, and paste.
6. If you cannot find the hard drive in the external case then it is possibly damaged.

Where are the emails, files, and data stored?

When you want to recover your files and emails from a hard drive out a of a crashes computer they will be a bit harder to find.

There will be no windows there to make it look nice with links to where everything is stored. You will have to manually navigate through folders to find what you want. It just a matter of knowing where they are and how to recover them.

You will have to also change a setting so that you can view certain files.

First you must un-hide your folders so you can view them.

This is performed on the computer that the USB external drives is plugged into.

1. Go to the Start menu at the bottom left corner.
2. Choose My Computer.
3. Go to the menu at the top and choose Tools, then choose Folder options.
4. Choose View from the tabs at the top.
5. Scroll down the list and find the Hidden files and folders section. Choose to show hidden files and folders.
6. Then press Apply and then OK.

Where are the files?

1. The outlook express email address book is located at C:\Documents and Settings\your user name\Application Data\Microsoft\Address Book
2. Outlook folders which include the inbox etc..C:/documents and settings/your user name/local settings/application data/identities/{your ID number}/Microsoft/Outlook express
3. The very important My Documents folder which usually has my pictures and more..C:\Documents and Settings\your user name\My Documents
4. Favorites for Internet Explorer. Located in C:\Documents and Settings\Your username\Favorites Simply copy the folder.
5. There is also more information at A list of the most important files to backup.

Recovering your files, emails, and data will not work if:

1. Your hard drive was effected by the computer crash. For example you may have had a power surge that damaged the hard drive. This will make the data unreadable and the only way to recover files is to take it to a professional.
2. If you have already wiped the files, emails, and data from the hard drive. (Like formatting the hard drive)
3. If your hard drive gets damaged after you recover it from your computer. Don’t laugh! People often drop hard drives or hit them with a screw driver. They are fragile and you must be careful with it.

Recovering your emails, files and data is extremely easy. So when your computer does crash, no need to panic too much. You will probably be able to recover your files by following these steps.

Notes:

• You can also install the hard drive into another computer to recover the emails and files that way, however it can sometimes mess with the setup of the computer. An external case is exactly that, external.
• After you have recovered your data you can also use this hard drive as a spare storage device. How to format your spare hard drive or flash drive
• When putting a hard drive into an external case the two must be compatible. If the hard drive has an IDE connection and is a 3.5″ then the external case must be compatible with that. If you have a Sata connection hard drive, you need a sata external case also.