Re: disk read error - need help retrieving files

From: Rock (rock_at_mail.nospam.net)
Date: 10/31/04 

Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2004 17:53:06 -0700

TracyAnn wrote:

> disk read error - need help retrieving files
>
> I get a "disk read error occurred" when I try to boot my system. I have run
> the western digital diagnostic tools to find any hardware errors - but there
> are none. I can get into the Windows Recovery Console and I ran the chkdsk
> /r to repair windows - but I still get the same error. When in the Recovery
> Console - I can navigate to see the data that I want to retreive - but I'm
> not sure how to best retrieve it. I don't think I can do a copy or backup -
> so what can I do??? Any ideas???
>
> Thanks

One option is to put the drive into another XP or Win2k computer as a
slave drive and copy off the data.

Another option is to download a Linux distro called Knoppix from this
site: http://www.knoppix.net/get.php

Create a bootable CD by burning the .iso image to CD using nero or
roxio. Then follow these steps to backup the data from the drive.

1. Boot Knoppix CD

2. In the "quick launch" toolbar you will see what is called the
"Konsole" icon. (Tip: If you hover your cursor over this icon, it will
display as Konsole.) Click on this and it will give you Linux's version
of a command line. (Tip: As with Windows NT platforms, you need to be
logged in as a user with administrative privileges to perform certain
tasks. In Linux, this is referred to as ROOT.) Okay, so we have the
Konsole window open. You will notice that you're showing up as a Knoppix
user. You need to type "SU root" without the quotes so that you can gain
administrative privileges. After this, minimize the shell to get it out
of your way for a moment. Now you are in a position to browse into the
hard drive that has an icon already displayed on the desktop.

3. Locate the folder(s) that you wish to back up. Now get back to the
shell that you had minimized and type "k3b" without the quotes. This
activates a a CD burning program called k3b which is included with
Knoppix Linux. With the program open, click file, new project, new data
project. All right, still with me? Okay, drag the folder(s) that you
wish to back up into the current projects area of the program. After
that, goto project, then select burn. A new window opens up and you are
almost ready to start the CD burning process.

In the new window, you need to make sure that the burn speed is set
correctly for the CDR that you are using. (Tip: If you are using a CDRW,
go to the tab marked "Settings" and make sure that "Start multi-session"
is selected.) All right, just click the "write" button and the CD
burning will now commence.

Once the CD has been written, close all of the windows. Click the big
"K" in the lower left corner and log off. After this, just follow the
prompts.