Can you boot to primitive operating system?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Larry
  • Start date Start date
L

Larry

My Windows XP Home machine is broken and won't boot to
Windows. Essentially, due to some networking, hanging
problems, and an inability to Restore, I tried to
reinstall Windows (called a reinstall repair(?) by the
Dell tech). During the reinstall, the screen during setup
got to a point where it said that there were 34 minutes
remaining--and hung.

We tried a variety of things to get past this "34 minute"
spot, but no luck. Dell told me I would need to reformat
and reinstall everything. However, I only backed-up the My
Docs folder and there are some other things (like email,
address books, etc.) that I need to save.

So, is it possible--short of removing the disk drive--to
get to and copy info on the dead computer's disk? Can I
boot to DOS or Unix or whatever underlays Windows then
copy files somehow?

Thought I'd ask before trashing everything with a reformat.

Larry
 
Physically disconnect all peripheral hardware devices from your PC,
except your monitor, mouse and keyboard. Then go out and get two
PS/2 adapters and use them to connect your keyboard and mouse
to the PS/2 ports in lieu of using the USB connections, then proceed
with a "Repair Install".

Windows XP SP1 Installation Stops Responding with About 34 Minutes Remaining
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;815319&Product=winxp

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Larry" (e-mail address removed) wrote in message:

| My Windows XP Home machine is broken and won't boot to
| Windows. Essentially, due to some networking, hanging
| problems, and an inability to Restore, I tried to
| reinstall Windows (called a reinstall repair(?) by the
| Dell tech). During the reinstall, the screen during setup
| got to a point where it said that there were 34 minutes
| remaining--and hung.
|
| We tried a variety of things to get past this "34 minute"
| spot, but no luck. Dell told me I would need to reformat
| and reinstall everything. However, I only backed-up the My
| Docs folder and there are some other things (like email,
| address books, etc.) that I need to save.
|
| So, is it possible--short of removing the disk drive--to
| get to and copy info on the dead computer's disk? Can I
| boot to DOS or Unix or whatever underlays Windows then
| copy files somehow?
|
| Thought I'd ask before trashing everything with a reformat.
|
| Larry
 
Larry said:
My Windows XP Home machine is broken and won't boot to
Windows. Essentially, due to some networking, hanging
problems, and an inability to Restore, I tried to
reinstall Windows (called a reinstall repair(?) by the
Dell tech). During the reinstall, the screen during setup
got to a point where it said that there were 34 minutes
remaining--and hung.

We tried a variety of things to get past this "34 minute"
spot, but no luck. Dell told me I would need to reformat
and reinstall everything. However, I only backed-up the My
Docs folder and there are some other things (like email,
address books, etc.) that I need to save.

So, is it possible--short of removing the disk drive--to
get to and copy info on the dead computer's disk? Can I
boot to DOS or Unix or whatever underlays Windows then
copy files somehow?

Thought I'd ask before trashing everything with a reformat.
Click to expand...

You can access NTFS drives and copy files from them with a free DOS
utility call ReadNTFS from http://www.ntfs.com/products.htm

However you will need something to copy the files to, such as a FAT32
drive. If that is not available on your computer then a bit of
ingenuity is required.

I have handled this specific problem a couple of times on laptops by
creating a boot disk that set up a large RAM drive (e.g. 16 to 20 mb).
Then I used ReadNTFS to copy the desired files to the RAM drive until
it was full. Then next step was to exit ReadNTFS and use PKZIP to
save the contents of the RAM drive to 3.5 inch diskettes.

Slow and cumbersome, and not at all suited for recovering large files.
But for document and spreadsheet files that are no too big it does
work.

Good luck



Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."
 
I tried as you advised. Still no luck. Any other suggestions

----- Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote: ----

Physically disconnect all peripheral hardware devices from your PC
except your monitor, mouse and keyboard. Then go out and get tw
PS/2 adapters and use them to connect your keyboard and mous
to the PS/2 ports in lieu of using the USB connections, then procee
with a "Repair Install"

Windows XP SP1 Installation Stops Responding with About 34 Minutes Remainin
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;815319&Product=winx

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows X
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;31534

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Instal
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.ht

--
Carey Frisc
Microsoft MV
Windows XP - Shell/Use

Be Smart! Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Larry" (e-mail address removed) wrote in message

| My Windows XP Home machine is broken and won't boot to
| Windows. Essentially, due to some networking, hanging
| problems, and an inability to Restore, I tried to
| reinstall Windows (called a reinstall repair(?) by the
| Dell tech). During the reinstall, the screen during setup
| got to a point where it said that there were 34 minutes
| remaining--and hung.
|
| We tried a variety of things to get past this "34 minute"
| spot, but no luck. Dell told me I would need to reformat
| and reinstall everything. However, I only backed-up the My
| Docs folder and there are some other things (like email,
| address books, etc.) that I need to save
|
| So, is it possible--short of removing the disk drive--to
| get to and copy info on the dead computer's disk? Can I
| boot to DOS or Unix or whatever underlays Windows then
| copy files somehow
|
| Thought I'd ask before trashing everything with a reformat
|
| Larr
 
Hmmmmm.... Good point--files have to go somewhere. How is it possible to boot up a peripheral when the computer is busted? Can I just put a boot disk into the floppy then run the DOS utility

There is a floppy and CDRW attached and I could attach a RAM drive to the USB

Thank you for the ideas. I look foward to more help, if possible

Larr

----- Ron Martell wrote: ----

Larry said:
My Windows XP Home machine is broken and won't boot to
Windows. Essentially, due to some networking, hanging
problems, and an inability to Restore, I tried to
reinstall Windows (called a reinstall repair(?) by the
Dell tech). During the reinstall, the screen during setup
got to a point where it said that there were 34 minutes
remaining--and hung.
spot, but no luck. Dell told me I would need to reformat
and reinstall everything. However, I only backed-up the My
Docs folder and there are some other things (like email,
address books, etc.) that I need to save
get to and copy info on the dead computer's disk? Can I
boot to DOS or Unix or whatever underlays Windows then
copy files somehow
Click to expand...


You can access NTFS drives and copy files from them with a free DO
utility call ReadNTFS from http://www.ntfs.com/products.ht

However you will need something to copy the files to, such as a FAT3
drive. If that is not available on your computer then a bit o
ingenuity is required

I have handled this specific problem a couple of times on laptops b
creating a boot disk that set up a large RAM drive (e.g. 16 to 20 mb)
Then I used ReadNTFS to copy the desired files to the RAM drive unti
it was full. Then next step was to exit ReadNTFS and use PKZIP t
save the contents of the RAM drive to 3.5 inch diskettes

Slow and cumbersome, and not at all suited for recovering large files
But for document and spreadsheet files that are no too big it doe
work

Good luc



Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canad
--
Microsoft MV
On-Line Help Computer Servic
http://onlinehelp.bc.c

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much.
 
Boot the XP CD and choose the Recovery Console. It looks a
lot like DOS and you can copy files and folders, look for
..wab for the addressbook.

When you reinstall, also using the XP CD, you'll be offered
the choice to partition and format the drive. You want to
delete the current partition and create 2 or more
partitions. The reason is that you can install XP and your
applications to C: and set your computer to use the other
(D: thru H:?, depends on how many you make and how big your
hard drive is) for the MY Doc and other folders. You can
set Outlook Express storage folders to D: and it is easy to
do if you use TWEAKUI.

Just plan what you want before you start, otherwise you'll
need a program such as Partition Magic to create partitions.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


message
| Hmmmmm.... Good point--files have to go somewhere. How is
it possible to boot up a peripheral when the computer is
busted? Can I just put a boot disk into the floppy then run
the DOS utility?
|
| There is a floppy and CDRW attached and I could attach a
RAM drive to the USB.
|
| Thank you for the ideas. I look foward to more help, if
possible.
|
| Larry
|
| ----- Ron Martell wrote: -----
|
|
| >My Windows XP Home machine is broken and won't boot
to
| >Windows. Essentially, due to some networking,
hanging
| >problems, and an inability to Restore, I tried to
| >reinstall Windows (called a reinstall repair(?) by
the
| >Dell tech). During the reinstall, the screen during
setup
| >got to a point where it said that there were 34
minutes
| >remaining--and hung.
| >>We tried a variety of things to get past this "34
minute"
| >spot, but no luck. Dell told me I would need to
reformat
| >and reinstall everything. However, I only backed-up
the My
| >Docs folder and there are some other things (like
email,
| >address books, etc.) that I need to save.
| >>So, is it possible--short of removing the disk
drive--to
| >get to and copy info on the dead computer's disk?
Can I
| >boot to DOS or Unix or whatever underlays Windows
then
| >copy files somehow?
| >>Thought I'd ask before trashing everything with a
reformat.
| >
|
| You can access NTFS drives and copy files from them
with a free DOS
| utility call ReadNTFS from
http://www.ntfs.com/products.htm
|
| However you will need something to copy the files to,
such as a FAT32
| drive. If that is not available on your computer
then a bit of
| ingenuity is required.
|
| I have handled this specific problem a couple of
times on laptops by
| creating a boot disk that set up a large RAM drive
(e.g. 16 to 20 mb).
| Then I used ReadNTFS to copy the desired files to the
RAM drive until
| it was full. Then next step was to exit ReadNTFS and
use PKZIP to
| save the contents of the RAM drive to 3.5 inch
diskettes.
|
| Slow and cumbersome, and not at all suited for
recovering large files.
| But for document and spreadsheet files that are no
too big it does
| work.
|
| Good luck
|
|
|
| Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
| --
| Microsoft MVP
| On-Line Help Computer Service
| http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
|
| "The reason computer chips are so small is computers
don't eat much."
|
 
I booted from the floppy and ran the ReadNTFS program you suggested. It is nice to see the files! However, I don't know how to boot and set up a USB ram drive so I have something to write them to. I have a drive, so accessing it would be my last step to save at least some small files like favorites, etc

Can you help

Larry
 
You would need USB support, but if you have a floppy drive
and a box of floppies you can save the files.

If you got a second hard drive you could install it as a
slave and copy the whole thing.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.




message
| I booted from the floppy and ran the ReadNTFS program you
suggested. It is nice to see the files! However, I don't
know how to boot and set up a USB ram drive so I have
something to write them to. I have a drive, so accessing it
would be my last step to save at least some small files like
favorites, etc.
|
| Can you help?
|
| Larry
 
Larry said:
Just to close this one, in case anyone still reads it, the solution I came to was to run READNTFS from a boot disk then use it to copy (small) critical files to a floppy. It is sort of magical to get files off a dead machine! Of course, there are many downsides: READNTFS runs ssslllllllllooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwllllllllyyy; filenames are shortened; searching is possible but primitive; and, of course, you are limited to the size of a floppy.

Some of you referred to saving files on some other FAT drive, perhaps set-up on the fly, but I never heard a simple way to do this. I am imagining taking an internal hard drive, pre-formatted to FAT, and installing it. I can handle the a hardware operation when things are running properly, but under abnormal conditions I am wary. So I stuck to saving bookmarks and phone books on floppies.

I would be interested in "easy" ways to get a large drive in place for copying or ability to use CDRW.

Larry
Click to expand...

Hi Larry.

Glad to hear you were able to get your files with READNTFS, And I
fully agree that it is slow.

When I use READNTFS to recover files from a laptop machine or other
places where an extra drive is not available I use a boot disk I made
up that started out in life as one of the network boot disks from
www.bootdisk.com This disk includes a RAM drive utility that can be
made quite large.

I modified the boot disk to remove the network driver stuff (most of
the time these do not work with the built-in NIC's in laptops) and
then put READNTFS.EXE and PKZIP.EXE onto the bootdisk and had these
files copied to the RAM disk.

I when I boot with this boot disk I end up with a RAM disk (drive E:
usually) of 16 megabytes which has READNTFS.EXE and PKZIP.EXE in the
root folder and also a folder named E:\Files.

I use READNTFS to copy about 15 mb of files to the E:\Files folder
then I exit READNTFS and use PKZIP to copy the files from the E:\Files
folder to the 3.5 inch diskette drive. That greatly speeds up the
copying and saving process, and allows larger files to be recovered
because PKZIP will span multiple diskettes.


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."
 
Back
Top