Beginner Guide: How to Recover Data from Your Old Hard Drives?

Have you lost important data, such as family photos, videos, and personal files, on an old computer and want to recover them?

If your old computer is still functional, you can skip to #Part 2 for reliable recovery methods. However, if your computer won’t boot or has stopped working, safe data recovery can only be achieved when you disconnect the old drive and attach it to another operable computer first.

In Part 1, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for connecting a removed hard drive to a functional computer.

Although originally designed for use inside a computer case, internal hard drives can also be adapted for external use, provided that compatibility issues are addressed. The key to making this work is using an internal-to-external converter tool.

When selecting a compatible converter, it is essential to consider the following parameters:

• Interface type (of your old hard drive)
• Drive size (of your old hard drive)
• Type of USB port (available on your working computer)

The interface type of a disk drive determines how the drive connects to a computer’s motherboard or external connection tools and how it interacts with them.

Common internal drive interfaces include IDE (also known as PATA), SATA, mSATA, M.2 (SATA/NVMe).

You can identify your old drive’s interface type using the picture provided below:

When selecting an internal-to-external adapter, it’s also crucial to know the size of your old hard drive. Standard internal hard drives for PCs generally come in two main sizes:

• 3.5-inch drives: These are typically used in desktop computers and can be either HDDs or Solid-State Hybrid Drives (SSHDs). If you are connecting a 3.5-inch drive externally, you will need an external power source to access the drive, usually provided by a 12V power adapter.
• 2.5-inch drives: These drives are commonly found in laptops and can be either SSDs or HDDs.

If you’re working with M.2 or mSATA drives, which are primarily SSDs, you’ll find that they are much smaller and thinner.

Common sizes for M.2 SSDs include 2230, 2242, 2260, and 2280. The “22” indicates the width, while the last two digits refer to the length in millimeters (mm). Currently, the main M.2 SSDs used in computers are generally 2280 size. A mSATA SSD measures about 50.8 mm x 29.85 mm x 4.85 mm.

Additionally, it’s important to know the USB port type of your computer when selecting a converter with the appropriate connector.

USB-A and USB-C ports are two common types of USB port found on desktops and laptops.

You can open Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus controllers to get some clues about what kind of USB ports your computer supports.

Now that you have considered the parameters, it’s time to select a suitable method to connect your old internal hard drive externally. Below are four common options to consider.

You can easily find a compatible adapter online by searching for “[Your Interface Type] + USB adapter”, such as “SATA to USB adapter” or “IDE to USB adapter”.

Before purchasing, carefully review the product images and specifications to ensure that the adapter’s interface type matches your drive and that its USB connector is compatible with your computer.

If you’re working with a 3.5-inch HDD, be sure to choose an adapter kit that includes an external power supply, as these drives require more power than what a standard USB port can provide.

The setup steps are easy:

• Connect your old hard drive to the adapter.
• Attach the external power supply cable if needed and power it on.
• Then, plug the adapter’s USB connector into the computer.
• Open File Explorer > This PC and check if the old drive is accessible now.

This option comes as the best choice because an enclosure can shield your internal hard drive from physical damage, dust, or moisture, significantly extending your drive’s lifespan. Compared to other options, a hard drive enclosure also provides secure portability.

When selecting an enclosure for your old drive, size is an important factor you should consider, besides interface and USB connector type.

Still, keep in mind that 3.5-inch drives require an external power source.

Here is how to connect a hard drive enclosure to your computer:

• Slide the top cover of the enclosure to open.
• Put your HDD or SSD into it and make sure to align it correctly with the interface connector.
• Then, link the power adapter if needed and turn on the power.
• Connect the USB cable to your computer.
• Finally, check if you can see the drive listed under This PC.

If you have multiple old hard drives, whether HDDs or SSDs, a hard drive docking station is an excellent choice. These devices typically feature one or more bays that can accommodate both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives. This allows you to conveniently dock and swap drives from your desktop or laptop computer through a single USB port.

Another advantage is that most docking stations come with a power adapter, so you won’t need to worry about providing sufficient power for 3.5-inch drives.

In addition, some advanced models even support standalone disk cloning, letting you copy data from one drive to another without the need to connect to a computer.

Here is how to connect your old hard drive to a computer using a docking station:

• Insert your hard drive into the dock correctly.
• Connect it to the power adapter and plug the other end to an outlet; Then, attach the docking station to your computer via the USB cable.
• Now, press the power switch to turn it on. If the power indicator light is green, then your drive is well seated.
• Open the equivalent program, like File Explorer on Windows, to see whether your computer recognizes the drive.

This approach involves mounting the old drive inside your desktop computer. It can work well for experienced users, but it introduces more risks than using an external enclosure, and is generally not recommended for beginners.

Before you begin, ensure that your desktop computer has available drive bays and connectors. You can refer to the motherboard or case manual for exact locations and requirements.

Once installed, only boot from your existing operating system. Do not attempt to boot from the old drive.

After connecting the hard drive, you can now safely and easily recover data using the following methods.

Deleted? Formatted? Re-partitioned? Or files lost due to a system crash? No matter the scenario, RecoveryFox AI is a reliable solution for recovering data from your old hard drive. Powered by AI, this smart recovery software can precisely identify long-lost files and even reconstruct the data pieces into a complete file.

You can start by trying the unregistered version to scan and preview recoverable files. 100% free and safe!

Free Download

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Available onWindows

⚠️ Always avoid installing software or saving new files on the drive from which you intend to recover data. This action can overwrite recoverable files, making their recovery difficult or even impossible.

Step 1. Select File Location

Launch RecoveryFox AI. On the home screen, select the connected old drive to start scanning.

Step 2. Start Scanning

Then, RecoveryFox AI will begin scanning the selected drive. The scan time may vary from minutes to hours and even days, depending mainly on your drive size and file volume.
You can pause or stop AI Scan at any time if you wish to preview found files early.

Step 3. Preview and Recover

To preview a file, simply right-click on it and select “Preview”.
Then, select whatever items you want — whether it's the whole scanned list, folders of a specific type, subfolders, or individual files.
Click “Recover”, and then choose a safe location to save your files. To prevent data overwriting, it’s best to select a different drive.

Video Tutorial: This video walks you through the entire process of connecting an old hard drive to your PC and recovering your lost or deleted data.

Windows File Recovery is a free command-line recovery tool available from the Microsoft Store. It can help recover lost files that have been deleted from both internal and external storage devices.

Here is how to use it to recover old data from your hard drive:

Step 1. Download and install it from the Microsoft Store.

Step 2. Press Windows + S to bring up the search bar. Search for “Windows File Recovery” and open it.
Then, a command prompt window will pop up with a simple instruction sheet inside. It tells you the usage syntax, lists of available modes and switches, and examples of how to use it.

Step 3. Now, input the command to start recovery. For example, I need to recover all MP4 videos from my old HDD drive (F:) and save them to the (D:) drive. I’ll run this command and press Enter：
winfr F: D: /regular /n *.mp4

If you want to recover additional file types, just add the /n *.[fileextension] filter option to your command. For example:
winfr F: D: /regular /n *.mp4 /n *.jpg /n *.pdf

If you still remember the lost file’s or folder’s name, you can use this command and note that if your folder path contains spaces, don’t forget to enclose it in quotes:
winfr F: D: /regular /n “\Test Folder\”

Step 4. The utility won’t start recovering right away. Instead, it summarizes your recovery settings and asks for confirmation before proceeding.
Double-check to make sure you choose a different drive location to save the recovered files.
Then simply press “Y” to continue.

Similar to Windows File Recovery, TestDisk & PhotoRec also rely on a command-line interface. However, it’s open-source and you can run it on Windows, Mac, Linux, and various ARM-based platforms to recover data from your old hard drives.

Let’s see how it works:

Step 1. Choose the compatible version and download the software bundle as a zip file from here: https://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Download
Although TestDisk and PhotoRec are bundled, they have their own executables. So you can run them separately.
TestDisk can recover lost partitions, reboot non-booting disks, or fix file system errors. If you want to recover media files on your old hard drive, then use PhotoRec.

Step 2. PhotoRec has two executables: one runs with commands, while the other one (qphotorec_win.exe) has a graphical user interface （GUI) option.
For starters, the GUI version is easier to work with. Click “Disk” to select the disk or partition containing your lost files.

Step 3. Then select the file system your drive is using and whether you want to scan the full disk or just the unallocated space.

Step 4. Hit “Browse” to select a different drive to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Finally, click Research to start recovering. Once complete, it will show you the file types and the number of files it recovered.

Step 6. But if you opt for the CML tool, the operation goes slightly differently.
Double-click on the photorec_win.exe to launch it. Then use the Up/Down arrow keys to select the target drive.
Press “Enter” to confirm your option and proceed.

Step 7. PhotoRec will then present you with: [Search], [Options], [File Opt], [Quit]. Press Left/Right arrow keys to make a selection.
Choose [Search] for a full data recovery scan; [Options] to customize how the recovery works; and [File Opt] to control what file types PhotoRec will attempt to recover.
To continue, select [Search] and press “Enter”.

Step 8. Next, you’ll be prompted to select: The file system type (FAT/NTFS/ext/etc.) and the space to analyze (whole disk or free space).
Press “Enter” to start recovering.

In certain situations, it's highly advisable to seek assistance from a professional data recovery service rather than attempting any do-it-yourself (DIY) solutions. You should consider this option if:

• The data is too valuable to risk further damage.
• The drive has been exposed to water, fire, or severe impact.
• The drive has been physically damaged (e.g., clicking, humming, buzzing noises).
• You notice burning smells or abnormal heat when connecting the device.
• The system fails to detect the drive even after trying on multiple computers or with different cables.

That’s everything you need to know about how to recover data from an old hard drive. This beginner-friendly guide walks you through the entire process, from connecting the drive to performing the actual recovery, so you can bring your files back with confidence.

When it comes to ease of use, RecoveryFox AI is the most beginner-friendly option. It requires no technical experience, and unlike the other methods, it supports file previewing, which can save you a lot of time, especially when recovering old photos or documents.

Of course, tools like Windows File Recovery and PhotoRec also have their strengths. Despite their more complex command usage, they are completely free, making them great choices for users who don’t mind the learning curve.

The final choice depends on your situation and comfort level. Pick the one that suits your needs, and you’ll be well on your way to getting your lost files back.

Thanks for reading till the end. Have a nice day!