[Jane S]

drive? the laptop hard drive is damged. The closest that I could get to a computer guy said that it is probably scratched. He attempted to access the hard drive but got nothing. When I turn on the laptop it makes this light clicking noise. I just want to retrieve a couple of files from it. Is there anyway that this thing can be accessed or disected and repaired? i am desperately trying to retrieve some of my baby's videos.

[Enchanted Greenheart]

I worked for a computer company a few years back and we'd have to send things like that off for data recovery.VERY EXPENSIVE!

[WSS]

with a jackhammer ;)

[NoComment]

Ok before you get to fixing the bad HD you need to get a new larger drive to put the file you recover onto. Second your going to need to get a copy of a good data recovery program I recommend that you "Restorer2000 Pro." In addition I recommend that you get an external encloser for the bad drive.Using the software is easy enough. Simply have it scan your bad drive. It will rebuild the file system and will enable you to copy the data off the drive with about 80 success rate. However this requires a working drive.Now we must address the clicking noise. Clicking noises are most often caused by bad barrings. Have you tried rotating the drive? Some times turning the drive upside down will take the pressure off the the failing barrings and allow the drive to read. This is not a permanent solution but it will allow you to get your data off. If upside down doesn't work try different positions until the clicking stops. This is were a external case becomes useful. In general provided that the drive spins you can still get the data off if you don't:1.Write to the drive2.Use windows drive utilities to fix bad sectors 3.DefragIf all else fails the recovery people can use your new drive to hold the data they recover from the bad one and its cheaper then the drive that they will send you.

[nightkiller_14]

get a recovery program they are very effective,,,