Re: Getting files from the hard drive without windows being engage

Alex Koutmos wrote:

> how would i get the files out of the hard drive usings ntfs4dos and
> put them on a usb key?
>
> "Plato" wrote:
>
>> =?Utf-8?B?QWxleCBLb3V0bW9z?= wrote:
>> >
>> > for some reason xp will not load on start up. I'm planning on
>> > reformatting the hard drive but i would like to get the files that
>> > i need out of there before reformating. How do you get files from a
>> > hard drive without windows being activated?
>>
>> Many ways. Here's one if your drive is in NTFS:
>> http://www.bootdisk.com/ntfs.htm
>>
>>

I'm not sure if ntsfs4dos will see a usb thumbdrive since I've never
used it. To retrieve data off a non-booting Windows hard drive (where
the hard drive itself is still viable and this isn't a hardware
problem) I find the easiest thing to do is to use Knoppix, which will
give you an easy graphical user interface. Here is information about
that:

Knoppix is a Linux distro on a live cd. You will need a computer with
two cd drives, one of which is a cd/dvd-rw OR a usb thumb drive with
enough capacity to hold your data. To get Knoppix, you need a computer
with a fast Internet connection and third-party burning software.
Download the Knoppix .iso from www.knoppix.net and create your bootable
cd. Then boot with it and it will be able to see the Windows files. If
you are using the usb thumb drive, right-click on its icon (on the
Desktop) to get its properties and uncheck the box that says "Read
Only". Then click on it to open it. Note that the default mouse action
in the window manager used by Knoppix (KDE) is a single click to open
instead of the traditional MS Windows' double-click. Otherwise, use the
K3b burning program to burn the files to cd/dvd-r's.

Other ways of getting the data off:

1. Slave the drive in a working XP machine. If your working XP will boot
(and sometimes it won't with a damaged slave), then just copy over the
data using Windows Explorer. Scan it with your av first of course.

2. You can also create a Bart's PE, but I think Knoppix is easier.
Here's a link to Bart's: http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Only wall paper, no desktop icons
    ... Then I boot trhe notebook with this cd, which means I have to change the ... Then with the usb ext hdd attached to the notebook,...(I lost you from ... Boot the laptop with either Knoppix or a Bart's PE ... > An easy way to retrieve Windows files is to boot with Knoppix, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Data Salvage protected folder HELP!
    ... > external USB setup to allow me to acceess and copy all of my pertinent ... An easy way to retrieve Windows files is to boot with Knoppix, ... http://www.beginningtoseethelight.org/efsrecovery/ - more encryption ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: cant boot into safe mode have antivirus xp 2008
    ... assuming that if I bought the USB housing and put either of my two HD's ... You can use Ubuntu or Knoppix, but you don't install it. ... with it and it will be able to see the Windows files. ...
    (microsoft.public.security.virus)
  • Re: Only wall paper, no desktop icons
    ... > desktop with cdrw and a usb ext hdd. ... you burnt the Knoppix .iso in Nero by ... 2) Knoppix mounts the drives Read Only. ... Now left-click once on hda1 or whatever icon represents your Windows ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Stop 0x000000CA
    ... Two USB hard disks of same size partitions crash the system with the blue ... Try it on your Windows XP, ... Two USB hard disks of different partition sizes, ... Are there any corresponding error reports in Event Viewer? ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)