This is an illustrated step by step guide to instruct readers how to recover data off a laptop. This procedure should only be carried out by computer technicians as laptops can easily be damaged.

First of all, not all notebooks have access to the hard drive from the top, many modern laptops have a special panel underneath where the hard drive can easily be accessed. Some older Dell laptops have a side panel where you can simply unscrew some screws and slide it out.

The laptop I will be working with for this tutorial will be an older Compaq with the hardest type of hard drive to remove, though the top.

In order to access the harddrive though the top panel, I have to undo the screws on the bottom of the laptop. Using a precision Phillips-head screwdriver, remove any screws that hold the top panel in place and put them in a safe location. Sometimes the screws can be difficult to find so look under stickers and the laptops rubber feet. Some laptops just snap together with clips.

Undoing the screws

Once the screws are released, very carefully lift up the top panel being careful not to pull the ribbon cable connected to the touchpad.

Opening up the laptop

Carefully disconnect the touchpad ribbon cable. To disconnect it with this laptop I had to lift a white plastic bar to slide the ribbon cable out however this may be different on other laptops. Make sure you take note of how you disconnected it because you will need to reconnect it when we finish.

Disconnecting the Touchpad Ribbon Cable

For this laptop we will need to make use of a screwdriver with “posi-drive” attachments. Once again, this is laptop specific and although most laptops require this type of screwdriver head yours may be different.

Posi-Drive Screwdriver Heads