A friend asked me to get data of their recently failed hard drive. The machine would not switch on at all.

I plugged my IDE to USB adaptor (which I've used countless times) into my main PC and it shuts it down. I then plugged it into my 2nd and 3rd PC and it has the same effect.

I've tested the IDE to USB adaptor on other hard drives with the usual success. I also used every available jumper setting on the back of the HDD.

What could cause that then?

Cheers!