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Laptop won't boot -can I load up XP to ram and get files?

  • 09-08-2010 10:14am
    #1
    rubadub
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,382 ✭✭✭✭


    My dell inspiron just gets the normal screen at the start and then the white underscore in the top left corner just blinks and nothing happens. I cannot get a safemode or anything. I went into the settings and did a diagnostic check and all seems OK. I put in a XP disk and it recognised the HD as the correct size.

    I have a "ubuntu" linux boot disk which loads to RAM, is there a way to get XP to load to RAM like this, and then would I be able to at least back up my important files and then format the whole thing again.

    Or any other suggestions?


Comments

  • #2
    Tallon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,565 ✭✭✭✭Tallon


    If ubuntu boots into it you can access all your files that way. i've done it many a time and took all files off a PC without booting XP


  • #3
    rubadub
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,382 ✭✭✭✭rubadub


    Do I need an external HD formatted to some linux format though? The laptop is NTFS and my external is NTFS, however I do have a 16GB usbstick which I could wipe and reformat if neccessary.

    If I could just drag and drop to the external it would be perfect.


  • #4
    Tallon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,565 ✭✭✭✭Tallon


    Yeah you should be able to just drag and drop to any source


  • #5
    MarkR
    Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 11,150 Mod ✭✭✭✭MarkR


    If you follow this guide you should be able to run ubuntu from the 16gb drive and copy over any files to your usb hard drive or the flash drive itself.


  • #6
    rubadub
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,382 ✭✭✭✭rubadub


    Brilliant! thanks guys, will let you know how I get on later.


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  • #7
    Tallon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22,565 ✭✭✭✭Tallon


    MarkR wrote: »
    If you follow this guide you should be able to run ubuntu from the 16gb drive and copy over any files to your usb hard drive or the flash drive itself.

    Not necessary, he can already boot to Ubuntu


  • #8
    ricman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,559 ✭✭✭ricman


    Plug in an external drive, and just boot up linux, and drag files over to drive e, or f,external driVE.
    You could install linux mint if theres 5 gig of free hardrive space.And burn files to cdr disk.
    see here http://linuxmint.com/


  • #9
    Snowbat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,064 ✭✭✭Snowbat


    rubadub wrote: »
    Do I need an external HD formatted to some linux format though? The laptop is NTFS and my external is NTFS, however I do have a 16GB usbstick which I could wipe and reformat if neccessary.

    NTFS write support has been available in most Linux distributions since 2007.


  • #10
    MarkR
    Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 11,150 Mod ✭✭✭✭MarkR


    Sorry, hadn't read it fully. :) Drag and drop and sorted.


  • #11
    rubadub
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,382 ✭✭✭✭rubadub


    Back up & running! many thanks to all.

    Only hiccup was when I put in the external drive it could not mount it, it said if I had windows I would have to plug it in and properly do that "safely remove USB device" thing down near the clock. Seemed to think it was still in use by windows, it also gave some commands to try to force it but they didn't seem to work, though I have no clue about linux. Anyway put the HD in another PC and removed properly and it mounted no problem then.


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  • #12
    mach1982
    Registered Users Posts: 760 ✭✭✭mach1982


    If it ia a Live CD, you'll need to go to /mnt/media/ as the Live CD will see your drive as external drive .


  • #13
    softdancomputer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 197 ✭✭softdancomputer


    Or if you're more happy with Windows, use UCBD4Win http://www.ubcd4win.com/downloads.htm


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