Computer Help and Support

eppur_se_muova

(39,458 posts)

6. If you can burn CDs /DVDs at the library you might try to d/l Hiren's Emergency Boot Disk ...

Fri Jan 11, 2019, 06:22 PM

Jan 2019

... or something similar which will allow you to boot into MiniWindows OS and copy your files. I don't believe the usual Windows backup utilities will work from the CD.

If you're not sure you've recovered all the files you want, don't reformat the disk or reinstall Windows until you try some serious data recovery with CAINE or the like.

Many of the tools on Hiren's disk are outdated or inappropriate for you. But the MiniWindows OS on the CD should be able to mount the bad disk and copy of all your files over to another disk (even DVDs).

There may be many other recovery CDs out there which are better for you; these are just what I'm familiar with. Be aware that many of them are Linux-based, if you're not familiar with Linux that may not be much help.

Sometime after your HD is back up and running, look into preparing a Windows emergency boot disk with Windows PE.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

7 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

computer disaster, any comfort? [View all] lastlib Jan 2019 OP

Yes. You can get an external drive housing. Plug your drive into that, and mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2019 #1

No Worries SirElaih Jan 2019 #2

I've had this happen, too PJMcK Jan 2019 #3

Hard to say what really happened to the computer. Odds are good you can retrieve data from the drive PoliticAverse Jan 2019 #4

You can also just run another os from a CD on your ram. defacto7 Jan 2019 #5

If you can burn CDs /DVDs at the library you might try to d/l Hiren's Emergency Boot Disk ... eppur_se_muova Jan 2019 #6

Thanks for all the replies, folks! Sounds hopeful! lastlib Jan 2019 #7