Recovering data from a failed drive is actually a simpler process than it may seem, assuming that the damage is not so severe that data cannot actually be recovered at all. It's important to keep in mind that all hard drives break eventually; it's a matter of when, not if. If a hard drive has gone past the point of no return (for example, you hear a constant audible clicking noise, and the drive isn't recognized by the computer), then there may not be much you can do aside from sending in the drive to an expensive data recovery firm.

If the drive is at least recognized by your computer (for example, it shows up in the BIOS), then there is still hope. As the Linux Mint installation media doubles as a live operating environment, you can access your hard drive directly from within the live media and attempt data recovery from the GUI that you already know. The first (and perhaps easiest) method is to attach a USB flash drive or external hard drive, and then browse...