Computer Help and Support

keithbvadu2

(40,915 posts) Sun Jun 6, 2021, 08:01 PM Jun 2021

Neighborhood power failure while we were gone.

Neighborhood power failure while we were gone.

Computer was on but not when we got home.
Tries to boot up but fails. Windows 7.

Tries to do a self repair but gives up.
Hoping that the hard drive is still ok but maybe corrupted.

Buying another computer is not the problem.

Want to try a docking station that hooks up with usb and retrieve data.

Any suggestions other than sledgehammer?

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sata+docking+station&crid=7P9FN243BELA&sprefix=sata+docking+sta%2Caps%2C254&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_16

What is diff between 3.5 and 2.5 size? Is the smaller one for laptops?

9 replies

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Neighborhood power failure while we were gone. (Original Post) keithbvadu2 Jun 2021 OP

This could send you pretty far down a rabbit hole but... EarlG Jun 2021 #1

Thanks for the help... See my #5. keithbvadu2 Jun 2021 #6

FYI EarlG Jun 2021 #9

Very likely nothing that destroyed your data happened MerryHolidays Jun 2021 #2

Thanks for the help... See my #5. keithbvadu2 Jun 2021 #7

Yes 2.5" drives (and smaller) are for laptops although SSDs are 2.5" in desktop... PoliticAverse Jun 2021 #3

Thanks for the help, folks. keithbvadu2 Jun 2021 #5

If it's an older unit, you might have an emergency boot CD around, instead of ... eppur_se_muova Jun 2021 #4

Thanks for the help... See my #5. keithbvadu2 Jun 2021 #8

EarlG

(22,706 posts)

1. This could send you pretty far down a rabbit hole but...

Reply to keithbvadu2 (Original post)

Sun Jun 6, 2021, 08:23 PM

Jun 2021

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/fix-mbr-windows-guide/

Good luck…

keithbvadu2

(40,915 posts)

6. Thanks for the help... See my #5.

Reply to EarlG (Reply #1)

Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:00 PM

Jun 2021

Thanks for the help... See my #5.

EarlG

(22,706 posts)

9. FYI

Reply to keithbvadu2 (Reply #6)

Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:29 PM

Jun 2021

I have had success fixing a non-booting system with option 2 on that page, after option 1 did not work.

MerryHolidays

(7,715 posts)

2. Very likely nothing that destroyed your data happened

Reply to keithbvadu2 (Original post)

Sun Jun 6, 2021, 08:39 PM

Jun 2021

Can you start the PC in safe mode?

It's been years since I had a device with Windows 7, but this kinda' stuff happened, and I was always able to recover.

I (and I am sure other DUers who are far better than me) are happy to get you back up to speed.

keithbvadu2

(40,915 posts)

7. Thanks for the help... See my #5.

Reply to MerryHolidays (Reply #2)

Sun Jun 6, 2021, 10:01 PM

Jun 2021

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)

3. Yes 2.5" drives (and smaller) are for laptops although SSDs are 2.5" in desktop...

Reply to keithbvadu2 (Original post)

Sun Jun 6, 2021, 08:46 PM

Jun 2021

and can be used in place of the standard 3.5" drive in desktops with a bracket that holds the 2.5" drive in a 3.5" bay.

As to drive recovery, yes you can put it in a docking station to see if the contents can be read. Also if you have another compute and a spare USB flash drive you can make a bootable USB drive with repair software on it and boot your old computer off the USB drive and use it to read/repair the old hard drive.