Many people depend on computers to reliably store their data, but what happens when the hard drive dies? The thought of losing all the files on the computer can be devastating. People can become desperate to know how to get data off dead hard drive.

Before attempting to save data from a dead hard drive, the person should make sure the hard drive is at fault for the computer failure. With a mechanical failure of the hard drive, the hard drive is physically damaged and will often make a clicking noise.

A logic error on the hard drive may cause a number of possible problems booting the computer system including error messages of "Inaccessible Boot Device" or "No Bootable Device Detected." Dell recommends that customers turn off the computer and turn it on again when getting the "No Bootable Device Detected Error." Restarting the computer will not solve the problem if the hard drive is dead.

One method of recovering data from a dead hard drive sounds like a myth. This method of recovering data is to freeze the hard drive. According to numerous personal accounts, freezing the hard drive actually works, at least temporarily.

After removing the hard drive, it should be sealed in a freezer bag. The bagged hard drive should be placed in the freezer for several hours. The person should be ready to save the data onto disks or a zip drive as soon as the hard drive is reinstalled.

Freezing the hard drive may only work for a limited amount of time, so the person must immediately begin saving the data. It would be a good idea to plan exactly what needs to be saved and start with the most important data.

Another way to get data off a dead hard drive from a computer with a Windows operating system is to use data recovery software. One such recovery software is called PC Inspector File Recovery.

To use data recovery software, the hard drive will need to be installed as a secondary device on a working computer. After installing the recovery software on the working hard drive, the user may be able to recover the data from the dead hard drive.

People who are not knowledgeable about computers should seek the assistance of a professional to recover data off a dead hard drive. There are professional data recovery service companies that also may be able to repair the hard drive. Some of these companies will not charge anything if they fail to be able to recover the data, but a successful data recovery could cost several hundred to thousands of dollars.

When looking for a professional to recover the data, the person may want to check for a local computer repair business that offers this service. The computer repair businesses that provide data recovery service often charge an hourly rate to recover data, so the person may want to pay for only the files that are a priority to save.

Prevention is the key for not having the headaches of trying to recover data. The most common cause of hard drive failure is computer overheating. Laptops are especially susceptible to overheating. To prevent laptop overheating, avoid using laptops on soft surfaces that can block the air flow of the air vents on the bottom of the laptop.

Backing up data may not save your hard drive from malfunctioning, but it preserves your data. There are file storage services available on the Internet. Another option is to save your data on a flash drive or other storage device.