There are two methods to retrieve data from a hard drive ( Method-1)Plug Your Old Hard Drive into a Desktop Computer Get a hard drive disk enclosure. This is an external system into which you can place aputer hard drive in order to run it on anotherputer via a USB port; essentially the enclosure will turn your laptop hard drive into an external hard drive. Differentputers use different hard drive models so be sure to check your dead laptop specifications before making this purchase. Ex. If your laptop has a 2.5 SATA drive you will need a 2.5 SATA USB enclosure. Unless you have a SATA drive be sure to buy a laptop-sized disk enclosure ; only SATA-ready enclosures can amodate both desktop and laptop hard drives. Note that disk enclosures arenmonly found in big-box stores and are usually purchased online. Borrow a workingputer that ispatible with your old one. If you had a Windows use another Windows; if you had a Mac use another Mac; etc. Make sure it has enough space to amodate the files you want to recover from the dead laptop; alternatively you can hook a second external hard drive up to the workingputer and simply use theputer as a transfer system for the files. A Linuxputer will be able to read files off of a Windowsputer (but not the other way around); unless you understand both systems however it is best to use a Windowsputer to recover a Windows hard drive. Mac users can insert a Windows hard drive into theirputer and be able to read (not write) the contents of their hard drive if they did not install a separate driver for example NTFS-3G or Paragon NTFS. Take caution though and only use Disk Utility during the process to mount the hard drive. Any other action you make on Disk Utility may remove contents. Remove the hard drive from the dead laptop. Turn off the laptop unplug it and remove the battery. Turn it over and youll see that various sections of the laptop base can be unscrewed and removed separately. Either look up your laptop model online to see exactly where the hard drive sits or simply look for the most likely candidate though it differs between laptops a laptop hard drive is often similar in size and shape to a floppy disk. Unscrew the hard drive cover and remove the hard drive. Some models will pop upwards some will slide outwards etc. Remove the disk enclosure connector plate and insert it into the hard drive interface. Look for connector pins at one end of the drive to see where to make this you have an IDE hard drive note that there is a detachable adapter sitting over the interface. Simply pull this adapter off so that the drive will properly connect with the enclosure connector plate. Insert the hard drive into the enclosure. Screw it shut if necessary; read the enclosure manual for additional details. Connect the external hard drive to the workingputer with a USB cable. Make sure theputer is turned on. Once the drive is connected an icon should appear on your desktop (Mac) or a notification should pop up (Windows). Theputer might also open the drive for you Windows doesn automatically prompt you about the new external storage unit simply open it manually by going to My Computer and looking for the new the hard drive isn recognized at first try ejecting it and plugging it back the hard drive is not readable it likely that the hard drive itself (and not yourputer software) failed. If this is the case you will need professional assistance if you wish to continue the salvage. Be warned that this can be very expensive. Explore and salvage your old files. Transfer them to either the workingputer or to a second external hard drive by copying and pasting clicking and dragging etc. If you have a lot of large files (ex. songs movies) note that the transfer could take many hours. When youre done close the window to your hard drive. The good news is that the deadputer is still physically intact and will probably work fine if you reinstall your operating system . Right-click the USB icon and select Eject. You can now detach the old hard drive.