I have a computer where a file in the system's start up is corrupt. I can't repair the computer because the Windows XP CDs were built into the computer. I really want to keep all my files on the failed computer.
Is there a certain cable (maybe a USB?) where I can connect the two computers, so I can transfer all my data from my failed computer onto my working one?
There's one way where I can disconnect my failing harddrive and connect it into another computer, but I can risk destroying my harddrive and the computer I'm working on.
Anyway to help?
2007-08-13 15:28:45 · 4 answers · asked by ♥ ¡Chica! ♥ 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
The same thing happened to the computer that I'm using .... the systems startup files were corrupt and couldn't be repaired. I installed a new drive and installed Windows then plugged the failed drive as a slave drive. All of My Documents were intact :) I simply transferred all my data from my failed drive onto my working one. I decided to be a little smarter this time and burnt My Documents to CD-R.
2007-08-13 16:01:35 · answer #1 · answered by lanhill 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to amplify on what Ben said ... you have to prevent the damaged HDD from booting up. This means that it has to be in a computer or device that isn't the boot drive.
you might be able to boot the computer from CD or floppy [if you have one] and then send the files out to an external hard drive that connects via USB. some utility companies supply such a bootable CD or floppy disk.
To use a CD drive this way, you'll likely have to enter the BIOS at startup and change the order in which the machine looks for the boot drive so that the CD comes 1st. [floppy is usually ahead of the HDD already, but maybe not.]
GL
2007-08-13 22:44:00 · answer #2 · answered by Spock (rhp) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your rejected option is pretty much the best way to go. You can set the switch on the hard drive to SLAVE and install it in the new system as a 2nd drive. If the drive is not physically damaged, it will be accessible as a 2nd drive. You can then pull whatever files you need off the drive.
An alternative is to purchase a HD housing to convert the drive to an external drive. But, this is only recommended if you plan to use the drive as a portable file system and not for a one-time recovery.
2007-08-13 22:38:49 · answer #3 · answered by turcott2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can get the data. You would have to pull out the hdd and use it as a slave in another computer. You can just search google for doing that.
2007-08-13 22:37:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋