Cannot read laptop IDE HDD...

I am trying to access files on a customers laptop HDD which is broken, I am trying to access it with a IDE to USB connector to my Desktop Computer.

I have managed it on broken HHD before but it just doesn't seem to be recognizing the HDD, it recolonize I have plugged a USB device in but not the HDD.

Any other ideas how I can access these files?

 

I have a couple of those IDE to USB adapters and i find they can be quite fickle and decide not to work with certain HDD's.

First thing i would do is try it with the adapter on a different laptop or PC.

Then i would try putting it in a laptop and booting live CD like Ubuntu.

Failing that your gonna need a different adapter to try or a get 2.5 to 3.5 adapter to enable you to plug it into a desktop.

 

Yea Qs idea is good, use a 2.5 to 3.5 adaptor ... the USB ones aren't always reliable.

 

Thanks for the advice, but the HDD wont even recognize when it's in the laptop itself... it's just completely gone.
Maybe a proper data recovery agency would be able to recover something but I just don't have the equipment.
Anyway thanks guys