Restore information and wipe drive from Failed Laptop

Parlos11 · Jul 3, 2024

Good day im in a bind.

I have a Windows 11 Laptop with a Microsoft Login account that uses the PIN function.

The laptop has a burned CPU.

I have taken the NVME Drive out, put it in a USB Caddy and plugged it in to another PC. The other PC uses the exact same Windows Account and PIN to Login.

I have tried to access the folder inside the "Users" Folder and no succes. I was starting to reconcile with the idea that I wont be able to access a very specific folder on the Desktop and decided to reset the drive with DISKPART. used the CLEAN command, used FORMAT as well.. No Success i cant revert the drive either to a "Factory" State so i can make a new Windows Instal.. No success either while trying to do a Clean Windows Install. The drive has 5 partitions and wont allow me to remove them either.

I believe it has something to do with the Microsoft Account...

Any Ideas are well received on both : Getting the data out / Reverting the drive to factory state so i can use it for a new windows install.

Berton · Jul 3, 2024

When I have issues with a drive that I can put in a USB caddy or drive dock I will boot a Linux LiveUSB and use its file manager to recover possible files. Then if the drive is to be reused I use the included GPARTED program and wipe all the partitions to give it an as-shipped condition. After that the future use determines if I leave it that way or create one full partition and format to use as portable storage.

FreeBooter · Jul 3, 2024

To remove all partition you can select the disk and execute following commands.

Less:

list disk

select disk X

Clean

Rollback_Jockey · Jul 3, 2024

Can't you replace the CPU?

antspants · Jul 3, 2024

Did you try taking ownership of the files/folder on the drive via the second pc? If you clean or format, you won’t be getting anything back.

Josey Wales · Jul 3, 2024

Rollback_Jockey said:
Can't you replace the CPU?

Most CPU's in a Laptop are not replaceable.

glasskuter · Jul 3, 2024

Was the drive bitlocked?

zbook · Jul 3, 2024

Parlos11 said:
The laptop has a burned CPU.

How did you identify the CPU problem?

Was there a power / electric problem that may have impacted the CPU?

Were all other files okay?

Please test the drive > post images or share links

SeaTools | Seagate US

SeaTools - Quick diagnostic tool that checks the health of your drive.

www.seagate.com

XxXxX · Jul 3, 2024

i second the Linux live USB option. that way you can retrieve your data and reset the SSD to blank by deleting all the partitions.
its has saved my data a few times in the past. you can use Rufus to burn the Ubuntu 22.04 ISO to USB.

Rufus - Create bootable USB drives the easy way

Rufus: Create bootable USB drives the easy way

rufus.ie

Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish)

CD images for Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish)

www.releases.ubuntu.com

Best of luck. Steve ..

Mooly · Jul 3, 2024

glasskuter said:
Was the drive bitlocked?

That was my thought as well. Wasn't there talk of W11 enabling Bitlocker by default a while back?

glasskuter · Jul 3, 2024

Mooly said:
Wasn't there talk of W11 enabling Bitlocker by default a while back?

Not Bitlocker in Pro, but device encryption in Home in laptops.

dacrone · Jul 3, 2024

just put that drive in your pc as the main drive, boot it, create a new partition ntfs, copy all data to that partition, put back in your other drive, plug in that old drive via usb and delete the os partition and extend the ntfs (new data) partition.... if you dont want to go the linux route

Parlos11 · Jul 5, 2024

FreeBooter said:
To remove all partition you can select the disk and execute following commands.

Less:

list disk select disk X Clean

Tried this Method, it doesnt do anything to the drive, the commands come back as executed, but no result

Parlos11 · Jul 5, 2024

Rollback_Jockey said:
Can't you replace the CPU?

Not on a Laptop

Parlos11 · Jul 5, 2024

glasskuter said:
Was the drive bitlocked?

Nope, just had the Windows User Account Pin Password

Parlos11 · Jul 5, 2024

dacrone said:
just put that drive in your pc as the main drive, boot it, create a new partition ntfs, copy all data to that partition, put back in your other drive, plug in that old drive via usb and delete the os partition and extend the ntfs (new data) partition.... if you dont want to go the linux route

It wont boot....It has a Windows Registry_Error...

Parlos11 · Jul 5, 2024

zbook said:
How did you identify the CPU problem?

Was there a power / electric problem that may have impacted the CPU?

Were all other files okay?

Please test the drive > post images or share links

SeaTools | Seagate US

SeaTools - Quick diagnostic tool that checks the health of your drive.

www.seagate.com

Drive Works Ok in the Caddy, but as soon as i try to access the "User" Folder, I have no permissions

dacrone · Jul 5, 2024

Parlos11 said:
It wont boot....It has a Windows Registry_Error...

whats the exact error?

hdmi · Jul 5, 2024

Check your Account Permissions:
Ensure that you are logged in with an account that has administrative privileges or sufficient permissions to access the folder.

Take Ownership of the Folder:
In the Security tab, click on Advanced.
Go to the Owner tab and click Change.
Enter your username and click Check Names.
Click OK and then Apply.
You should now have ownership of the folder.

Change Folder Permissions:
Right-click on the folder and select Properties.
Go to the Security tab.
Click on Edit and add your user account with the necessary permissions (read, write, etc.).
Apply the changes and try accessing the folder again.