How to Transfer Files from Broken Laptop to New Laptop - Easy!

A broken laptop doesn't have to equal a loss of years' worth of photos and other essential files. If your old device is cracked or the screen is not working, you can follow the easy methods below to rescue your data from that broken laptop.

Whether you want to transfer data directly or get data off a hard drive, EaseUS can walk you through the guide on how to transfer files from a broken laptop to a new laptop. Let's get started!

Assess the Broken Laptop's Condition

Before discussing recovery options, we will consider the condition of your notebook. Even if it looks dead, don't worry—we are interested in whether the device is still capable of turning on.

The first thing you should do is check if your laptop can turn on. If it does so even with a cracked screen or unresponsive keyboard, then you should be able to copy out the files directly with your mouse. If it doesn't, don't worry—there are still ways to access your hard drive and data.

Although the laptop is broken, we need to see if the hard drive is still available. This process will vary by laptop, but generally, this involves unscrewing a few screws and gently pulling out the drive (be careful as it could be reskinned).

How to Transfer Files from Broken Laptop to New Laptop - 2 Cases

Once you assess your situation, you will know which recovery method is best for recovering lost partitions, suited for the kind of loss, and from where data was being recovered.

1. Method 1. Direct File Transfer (If laptop powers on)
2. Method 2. Hard Drive Removal and Connection (If the laptop fails)

Method 1. Direct File Transfer (If laptop powers on)

If your laptop still exists in some functional form, such as if it turns on, even though it may be a little worse for the wear, etc. It is the easiest recovery file state. To make this process easy, a tool like EaseUS Todo PCTrans Professional can be utilized.

It is essentially a digital moving van that will easily migrate all of your apps, files, and even users to the new PC. Even a new user can easily navigate it. There's no need to be a tech wizard! Get this powerful tool on both your laptops and then you can start transferring your data.

Step 1. Set Up the Old PC

• First, install and launch EaseUS Todo PCTrans and select Data Transfer on the left panel of the main interface.

• Select "Transfer Directly" and click "Next" to continue. 

Step 2. Set Up the New PC

• Download and launch EaseUS Todo PCTrans on the new computer; select "This is New PC" and click "Next".

• Select "Transfer directly" and click "Next" to continue. 
• Select "Network" and click Next to continue. This will automatically scan the old PC. (Make sure the two PCs are connected to the same LAN.)

• Select the target PC and click Connect. Then, it will take some time to scan and analyze the data in old PC.

Step 3. Select the Data to Transfer

• On the new PC, select the applications, files, and accounts that you want to transfer. Then, click "Transfer" to start.

If you can't access your data because your laptop won't turn on, don't worry. We have another option.

Method 2. Hard Drive Removal and Connection (If the laptop fails)

If your laptop has wholly given up the ghost and won't power on at all, there's still hope! In this scenario, we'll need to get a little more hands-on. The key is to remove the hard drive from your broken laptop and connect it to another working computer.

First, you should remove the HDD/SSD from the laptop. If you don't know how to do so, the following page can help.

🚩Further Reading: Where Is The Hard Drive on A Laptop?

Then, connect the drive you just removed to the new laptop by inserting it into the disk slot, using an external hard drive enclosure or an adapter.

EaseUS Todo PCTrans comes to the rescue again, with its "Data Rescue" feature. This is specifically designed for situations where your old PC is no longer functional. It lets you connect your old hard drive to your new computer and seamlessly migrate your files.

Here are the detailed instructions for this process:

Step 1. Take out the disk from the old PC.

• Disconnect the power supply. Please take out the battery if it is a laptop.
• Open the case to see the hard disk in the old PC.
• Disassemble the shell by using a screwdriver to find the hard disk.
• Disconnect the hard disk and cable, then take out the hard disk.

Step 2. Connect the hard disk to the new PC.

Multiple connection methods:

• USB hard disk drive Enclosure:  Use this special device to connect the old disk and the Enclosure, and then connect to the new PC by USB.
• USB hard disk drive Adapter: It is a device like a "Cable". One end is connected to the hard disk, and the other end is connected to the USB port on the new PC.
• Desktop Computer: If the new PC is a desktop PC, the old disk can be connected as the second disk.

Step 3. Recover/Migrate the applications, files, accounts from the old disk.

1. On the new PC, open EaseUS Todo PCTrans and select "This is New PC" in the Data Transfer tab.

2. Choose "Transfer via disk" and click on "Next" > "Scan."

(If the old PC system disk's registry is corrupted, it will fail to detect your disk. There is no way to rescue your applications anymore. You are suggested to copy your file data as soon as possible to avoid further loss.)

3. Select the target disk you want to recover data from and click "Continue."

4. Your programs, files, and accounts will be listed after the analysis. Select the data you want to transfer and then click "Recover."

5. Wait patiently till it's done. When the transfer is finished, a reboot is required to refresh all transferred information.

If you find this tool useful in rescuing your personal files from the broken laptop, don't forget to share it with other users who are facing the same issue.

Additional Tip: Broken Laptop Troubleshooting 

If you're experiencing hard drive issues on Windows 10, it's crucial to identify the specific problem you're facing to apply the correct solution.

One common issue is the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), which can be caused by various factors, including hardware failures and system file corruption. For a comprehensive guide on how to address BSOD related to hard drive failures, check out this article on How Do I Fix Windows 10 BSOD: Blue Screen of Death Error.

Another frequent problem is disk errors, which can manifest in various ways, such as slow performance or corrupted files. Disk errors can often be resolved through built-in Windows utilities or specialized software. For detailed instructions, refer to this article on How to Fix Hard Drive Failure on Windows 10.

In some cases, the issue might be more severe, such as when your PC refuses to boot up entirely. This can be due to a range of issues, from power supply problems to corrupted system files. If you're facing this frustrating situation, our in-depth guide on the causes and fixes for computers that won't turn on provides practical steps to troubleshoot and resolve Computer Won't Boot.

These resources cover a wide range of common hard drive and system issues, providing you with the tools and knowledge to troubleshoot effectively. Whether it's a BSOD, disk errors, or a non-booting PC, these articles offer valuable insights and solutions to help you get your system back to optimal performance.

Conclusion

It will almost undoubtedly be stressful to lose a laptop, and that stress will only escalate if you believe there are valuable files in the machine. However, as we mentioned earlier, your data retrieval can be simple. EaseUS Todo PCTrans is a migration tool that anyone can use to keep their old PC running after it breaks down or to get everything up and working if you buy a new computer.

FAQs on How to Transfer Files from Broken Laptop to New Laptop

Hopefully, this guide has shed some light on the file recovery process. But if you're still feeling lost or have specific questions, we've compiled some frequently asked questions to help you out.

1. Can you transfer files from a laptop that won't turn on?

Absolutely! Even if your laptop does not boot up somehow, a way is still left for you to get hold of the files on it. Here's how:

• Without the hard drive inside it, Typically, this entails removing the back panel and gently pulling out the drive.
• Plug in the hard drive to another computer. Doing this requires a special enclosure or adapter, which is available here.
• Access your files. It will then be recognized as an external drive on the other computer, which means you will be able to do a file copy.

Note: EaseUS Todo PCTrans also has another helpful feature, Data Rescue, which is designed to automatically recover all types of data without effort.

2. How do you transfer files if USB is disabled?

If you cannot use your laptop USB ports, the same options apply to you, too;

• Plug in the hard drive internally: If another computer has an extra bay or adapter, you can plug your laptop's hard drive into it.
• If your laptop still works, connect to the same network and transfer files over Wi-Fi or a wired Ethernet connection.
• Cloud storage: Use a file hosting service like Google Drive or Dropbox to upload files from the laptop and access them on the secondary computer.

3. Can I get files off a broken laptop?

Yes, you can! The method for retrieving your files will depend on the specific issue with your laptop. If it still powers on, you can use file transfer software. If not, removing the hard drive is usually the best approach.