Data Recovery Problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jack Bruss
  • Start date Start date
J

Jack Bruss

My daughters laptop has crashed somehow, and it won't boot to windows. I
have a recovery cd, but it will format the drive, and she has many files on
the drive that are not backed up. I can boot in DOS and see the files in
DOS, but there are too many to copy to the floppy drive effectively. Is
there some way I can back up her data files or maybe reload windows without
formatting?

Thanks,

Jack
 
Jack said:
My daughters laptop has crashed somehow, and it won't boot to windows. I
have a recovery cd, but it will format the drive, and she has many files on
the drive that are not backed up. I can boot in DOS and see the files in
DOS, but there are too many to copy to the floppy drive effectively. Is
there some way I can back up her data files or maybe reload windows without
formatting?

Thanks,

Jack
Click to expand...
if you have a windows cd
you can always install windows in a different folder
and though you'd have to reinstall apps
you could at least access the data.

something you may want to try first is an install-over

rename win.com then reinstall windows back in the original
windows folder (usually just c:\windows)
 
I don't understand what you mean here. How do I install windows without
reformatting? If I put a win 98 cd in and try to run setup, won't my only
option be to format?

Jack
 
Jack said:
I don't understand what you mean here. How do I install windows without
reformatting? If I put a win 98 cd in and try to run setup, won't my only
option be to format?

Jack
Click to expand...
if you use the *recovery* cd you may only have the option to
wipe out your previous install

however with a "regular" win98 installtion cd
there is no need to format the drive first


look on your recovery cd and see if there is a win98 folder...
if so you should be able to run setup from there...

if there is just one large "image" file
you will need a "regular" win98 cd
 
My daughters laptop has crashed somehow, and it won't boot to windows. I
have a recovery cd, but it will format the drive, and she has many files on
the drive that are not backed up. I can boot in DOS and see the files in
DOS, but there are too many to copy to the floppy drive effectively. Is
there some way I can back up her data files or maybe reload windows without
formatting?

Thanks,

Jack
Click to expand...


What other potential avenues do you have for alternate
backup? For example, will the notebook see a USB thumbdrive
in dos? What about a USB hard drive?

You could buy a notebook hard drive adapter and connect the
drive to a desktop system to copy off the data, for example:
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?scoring=p&q=laptop+hard+drive+adapter

There is a way to reload windows too, you need a regular
windows installation CD of the same version (OEM, home or
pro as original). The system is licensed to use same
version of windows regardless of the physical media it came
from, but of course you'll need to use the installation key
that came with the system, if the key doesn't work you dont'
have the right (sub)version of windows.
 
Jack said:
My daughters laptop has crashed somehow, and it won't boot to windows. I
have a recovery cd, but it will format the drive, and she has many files on
the drive that are not backed up. I can boot in DOS and see the files in
DOS, but there are too many to copy to the floppy drive effectively. Is
there some way I can back up her data files or maybe reload windows without
formatting?
Click to expand...

Here's a HARDWARE answer: Remove the HD from the laptop, and with an
adapter cable, install it as slave in any available desktop computer.
You can then copy the files to anywhere you wish. When finished, return
the drive to the laptop, format it, and do a clean install of Windows.

Virg Wall
 
Thanks - I've got a regular Win98 CD and I'm running it right now, and it
seems to be working. I thought it would force me to format, but not so far.

Jack
 
Jack said:
Thanks - I've got a regular Win98 CD and I'm running it right now, and it
seems to be working. I thought it would force me to format, but not so far.

Jack
Click to expand...
that should work fine...
if you install windows in a new folder
you will need to reinstall your apps and windows updates...
and possibly reload some drivers
but at least you will be able to access your data.
if all works out ok
you can delete your old windows folder to give you back room on the
harddrive
 
You may also want to, when you get into Windows, backup all the data files
you need, then run the recovery CD and do a full format and install to get
back all your apps.
--


"I don't cheat to survive. I cheat to LIVE!!"

- Alceryes
 
My daughters laptop has crashed somehow, and it won't boot to windows. I
have a recovery cd, but it will format the drive, and she has many files on
the drive that are not backed up. I can boot in DOS and see the files in
DOS, but there are too many to copy to the floppy drive effectively. Is
there some way I can back up her data files or maybe reload windows without
formatting?
Click to expand...

try boot to command prompt after hitting F8 at bootup & than do a
scanreg/restore command (& chose some of last good register backups=
RbXXX.cab & restore it; may help ...
 
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