How to Access/Copy Files from Hard Drive (Files From Windows 10)

[VillageofNewLinux]

I'm pretty new to Linux (got Mint running this morning) and I apologize if this has been asked before (didn't find exactly what I'm looking for in the forums). My laptop will no longer boot Windows, so I'm using Linux Mint 21 - Cinnamon on a bootable USB flashdrive to try to recover files from my PC. I didn't do a very good job of backing up my files from Windows, so I'm hoping Linux can help! I think found the drive I want to access, but I'm not able to mount the drive. Here's what I see when I right-click on it and select mount:


When I look at Disks, I can see the drive but I'm not sure what to do from there:


Here's my probably stupid question, do I need to install Linux on my computer in order to mount the drive (running it from a USB flashdrive currently)? If I install Linux on my computer, will it get rid of all my files from Windows? I'm looking to recover/backup the files in: Documents, Music, Videos, Photos, etc. and hoping those files aren't lost forever.

I greatly appreciate any help anyone is able to provide! I'm happy to provide more information, if needed, as well. Thanks!

[deepakdeshp]

You don't mount a drive but a partition of a drive. You have 4, the majority chunk is unknown partition. The chances of it mounting are low. You may have formtted Windows.

[t42]

You have invalid partition table. Don't install anything on this disk until you don't recover your files acting from live USB system. You can start with running test_disk static and repairing partition type.

[VillageofNewLinux]

You have invalid partition table. Don't install anything on this disk until you don't recover your files acting from live USB system. You can start with running test_disk static and repairing partition type.

Would test_disk static and repair be something that I would do in the command prompt, or is that an option in Disks or GParted? I appreciate your help and am very new to Linux...but am liking it so far.

Ideally, I'd like to get the files I need off this thing and install Linux on it.

[Cosmo.]

I wonder, if this drive (sda) is encrypted?

[VillageofNewLinux]

I wonder, if this drive (sda) is encrypted?

I honestly have no idea. I didn't do anything like that to the hard drive while it was strictly a Windows machine, that I can tell you for sure.

[t42]

Would test_disk static and repair be something that I would do in the command prompt, or is that an option in Disks or GParted?

Test disk is started from the terminal and has its own menu driven text interface:
TestDisk Step By Step - CGSecurity

[Cosmo.]

The idea about encryption came into my mind, as I saw the screenshot of Disks. I have no other explanation, why Disks cannot make any sense about the partitions except the size and says even about the partition type "unknown".

[VillageofNewLinux]

Gotcha, that does make sense. I'll investigate a little further after work since I'm not able to dive into it at the moment. I really appreciate your help!

[VillageofNewLinux]

Just a quick follow up on this. I've removed the hard drive from the laptop and have tried about everything I can to get it to work with no luck. Aside from taking the drive completely apart, I think it's done for. I appreciate everyone's help on this and look forward to doing more with Linux in the future. The quick responses I got from this community were helpful. Thanks again!