HP DV7-4191nr Won't Power Up

[WhyIsThis70]

Hello, I have an HP DV7-4191nr Laptop with a Core i7 processor, 1st Gen, running Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit, with Service Pack 1. All MSFT updates have been applied. Last week the computer just powered off while I was using it. The blue light next to the cord connection is lit, so it is getting power. From what I've read it may be of the wrong voltage. When I hit the power button the fan starts and then just shuts right down again. Occasionally, I will get a screen that gives me two options. The first is "Launch Startup Repair (Recommended), and the second is "Start Windows Normally". Occasionally, I'm able to get as far as to select "Launch Startup Repair" and it says "Windows is loading files", and then it just shuts off again. This is as far as I've been able to get. I know that I need a new computer, to at least get with the times. My last hard drive backup, to a Seagate USB Hard Drive, was a little over two months ago. In the time since then, I've added some very, very important documents to my Desktop which I really need to retrieve. I either need to find a way to get this laptop started so I can make one last backup, or find a way to read the hard drive so that I can do the same. It does have two 500gb 7200 RPM hard drives. All my personal data is located on just one of those hard drives, the same one that Windows 7 is loaded on. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Is there any possibility the A/C power supply has gone bad, supplying the wrong Voltage? It is NOT one of those power supplies that were recalled for overheating. This is a huge stresser for me right now; the lost data is that important. Thank you very much for any help or suggestions. Tom.

[Huffer]

Stop trying to use the laptop. Those partial starts and crashes are very damaging to the hard drive. 

Open the door on the back and remove both hard drives. Get a usb to SATA adapter and you should be able to scavenge those new files out of the desktop folder and onto a storage location. 

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-SATA-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00HJZJI84/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=pc&ie=UTF8&...

Post back with any more questions. I think the motherboard has died. Just to be 100% sure you could get an inexpensive AC adapter from amazon and try it but I think that money would be wasted. 

[WhyIsThis70]

I forgot to mention that there is NO Battery in the Laptop, so a dead batttery is not causing the issue.

[WhyIsThis70]

Thank you Huffer. I was not notified of your comment to my email address, so I DID NOT SEE YOUR REPLY UNTIL JUST NOW. I can certainly see that those mini starts could damage the hard Drives. I will stop immediately, and get the USB Cable.

Maybe a silly question, but I've never hooked up a hard drive like this before (One that has an Operating System on it). Will it be self-explanatory to navigate to the files I need in order to copy them? Thank you so much...!

[WhyIsThis70]

I just looked at your link on Amazon, and no mention of backwards compatibility.  Will it work with a USB 2.0 computer??

[Huffer]

Yes but you can find older USB 2.0 versions if that makes you nervous. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SATA-PATA-IDE-to-USB-2-0-Adapter-Converter-Cable-for-2-5-3-5-Inch-Hard-Driv...

These little kits with the power supply are good to have around anyway. 

Yes the file structure will be apparent. You may need to take ownership of the files on the old drive from the host computer but Windows will walk you through that. Desktop is in the Users folder under your user name

[WhyIsThis70]

Thank you once again, and for the Ebay link. I know you are an expert, so the one from Amazon does NOT make me nervous if you say it is backwards compatible to USB 2.0.  It is obvious that the power from a USB port is enough to operate the SATA hard drives on this damaged Laptop. Since my next Laptop will have USB 3.0 or 3.1, I think this cable is my best bet for now. I just purchased it from Amazon. Once I get the Cable and am able to access my 2 SATA drives, I will mark this post as solved. Is this plan OK with you? YOU HAVE BEEN A GREAT HELP TO ME, AND I SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. Have a great Holiday Season..!!

[Huffer]

If you are happy so am I. The Solution would be nice but more important we get you where you want to be. 

[WhyIsThis70]

Great! I will NOT forget to click the BLUE BUTTON..!!

[WhyIsThis70 · Accepted solution]

Well, I do consider this issue solved. When I do get the USB Cable, and if I have issues reading the drive, that would  constitute a different issue. So, I am going to cick the Blue Button. Thanks again for your help..!!!