Devices, Passwords, and Security
What if they had important files only on a local hard drive?
Short answer
A local hard drive can be accessed by connecting it to another computer as an external drive — if it is not encrypted. Encrypted drives require the password or encryption key. A professional data recovery service can sometimes recover data from damaged…
What this usually means
A local hard drive can be accessed by connecting it to another computer as an external drive — if it is not encrypted. Encrypted drives require the password or encryption key. A professional data recovery service can sometimes recover data from damaged drives. Document any data recovery steps in case you are questioned later about how you accessed the information.
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county phone numbers for coroner, vital records, and local offices.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.