Getting files from an internal hard drive

SimonTemplar

My OS seems to have suffered a catastrophic failure. I'm getting a lssas object cannot be found error on startup which immediately reboots the sys. Also occurs in safe mode.

Looks like I'll need to do a complete sys restore (which isn't a bad thing as I've been meaning to do one). Most of my stuff is on a seperate drive to the OS but I do need to get some recent files from that drive too.

I know my way around a PC and I've been looking at those SATA to USB connections but they cost 50 euro or so and I dont want to spend that kind of money.

Does anyone know of a cheaper way to get files off an internal drive (besides connecting it into another PC)

Thanks.

BostonB

Add another drive and put an OS on it. Boot from Live CD. Where are you going to put these file?

SimonTemplar

BostonB wrote: »

Add another drive and put an OS on it. Boot from Live CD. Where are you going to put these file?

Add another drive would cost me the price of a new drive so that isn't an option.

The files can go on my work laptop. The faulty pc is a desktop.

SimonTemplar

I did some more research and a bootable os like knoppix looks like a good way of accessing the file system before the restore.

yoyo

Are you certain the hard disk has not failed, run a diagnostic scan on it with something like Vivard or MHDD, backup first though. You can get techie cables (IDE/SATA -> USB) and external power supplies for around €20 on ebay or less (make sure it comes with a power supply and a molex->SATA power), docks are more expensive but are sturdier.
Other option is knoppix and a external hard disk, copy what is readable over to the external.

Nick

RodgersLFC

Try booting into a Linux distro that you can run from a USB key, such as Tails. You should be able to access the files from that.

riclad

A 2.5inch sata caddy is 10 to 15 euros in shops,
http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=67 livecd
fits on 1 cdr, download,burn iso using Imgburn or similar program.
as you say 3.5 caddys are around 50 euro.
If os is windows,try safe mode,directory services restore,
this fixes boot files in most cases,enables normal startup.
OR use livecd ,boot from cd, copy data to an external drive.
it can acess c drive or any partition ,windows files,folders.
click on computer,filesystem, icon, hd0, hd1 after mint boots from cd,you may need to go to bios, set boot cd,=1st boot device.
I suppose you could copy files ,to a 2gig pendrive,then plug drive into your laptop.
A sata drive on adverts ie is cheap.IF files are that important i,d buy a new drive.

BostonB

SimonTemplar wrote: »

Add another drive would cost me the price of a new drive so that isn't an option.

The files can go on my work laptop. The faulty pc is a desktop.

Not really you could pick up 2nd hand one for very little. It only has to fit the OS. Buying another drive might be a sensible thing to do, so you can keep a backup so if a drive goes down (as they do) you have the files somewhere else.

riclad

http://www.powercity.ie/index.php?par=30-26&cat=Radios,%20Headphones,%20Accessories%20%20&action=brandstory
OR buy a usb key in maplins or peats.

Freddy Smelly

I think your best bet would be to use the Microsoft Recovery Console.

There is some information at
http://support.microsoft.com/default...p%3Bln%3Den-gb,
but I'm also going to put all the steps you'll need to do here.

To run the Recovery Console from the Windows XP startup disks or the Windows
XP CD-ROM, use the following steps:
1.. Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or
insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the
computer.
2.. Boot to CD rom; the Windows Setup screen will appear, and it will do a
number of actions. Don't worry about this, just let it do it's thing.
3.. When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the
Recovery Console.
4.. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, choose the
installation that you need to access from the Recovery Console.
5.. When you are prompted to do so, type the Administrator password. If
the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
6.. At the command prompt, type the appropriate commands to diagnose and
repair your Windows XP installation.
For you, this is what you should do: Type "expand d:\i386\lsass.ex_
c:\windows\system32" - this is assuming your CD-ROM is d:, and that your
Windows directory is c:\windows. If this is not the case, change
accordingly. Press ENTER.
7.. To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit at
the command prompt, and then press ENTER.
I tried deleting my lsass.exe and restoring it this way, and it worked
fine - give it a go! Hope it helps!