Dell Inspiron laptop HELP

oldenufftoknowbetter

Hope someone can help here

Think my oh has fried the hard drive in her laptop its a Dell inspiron 8100. When you try to start it you get a page saying windows cannot start due to new hardware/software it then flashes an error message then nothing. It was clicking like mad yesterday but nothing now.

Question is is there any way I can get access to the drive as there's a lot of work on there we need. She was right near the end of some work that hasn't been backed up:eek:

Browntoa

can you boot the laptop into safe mode ??

F8 on start up

Browntoa

might be worth trying reseating the hard drive

http://www.ualr.edu/fsrc/Equipment%20Pictures/Inspiron%208100/remove.htm#1041881

Hard Drive



NOTICE: Disconnect the computer and attached devices from electrical outlets and remove any installed batteries. NOTICE: To avoid ESD, ground yourself by using a wrist grounding strap or by periodically touching an unpainted metal surface on the computer.
Removing the Hard Drive

NOTICE: To avoid damaging the system board, you must remove the main battery before you service the computer. NOTICE: Make sure that the work surface is clean to prevent scratching the computer cover. NOTICE: The disk drive is very sensitive to shock. Handle the assembly by its edges (do not squeeze the top of the hard drive case), and avoid dropping it.

1. Follow the instructions in "Preparing to Work Inside the Computer."
   
   Close the display, turn the computer upside down on a flat work surface, and remove the main battery and secondary battery (if present).
   
   Remove the M3 x 5-mm screw from the center of the hard drive door.
   
   Slide the drive door up until the drive assembly tab disengages from the door slots in the bottom case assembly.
2. Carefully pull the drive assembly straight out of the bottom case assembly.

Replacing the Hard Drive

1. Push the drive assembly into the hard drive opening on the left side of the computer.
   
   Align the drive assembly tabs with the bottom case assembly slots and push down until it clicks into place.

Replace the M3 x 5-mm screw in the drive door.

Browntoa

otherwise it will need a specialist data recovery service, expect at least £100 !!....if the Hard disk is fauty