trying to retrieve data from fried system

Hi everyone!

I'm helping a mate whose computer is desperately in need of the old format C:, it's locking up, blue screen of death etc, etc. We can't get any programs to run, but he desperately wants to get some files off his machine.

What I'm wondering is can I add another small hard drive I have, as a slave, copy the files to that disk, format the main drive, reload Windows 98 and all the other software, and then be able to access those files, that are on the slave? I'm a bit of a newbie, so I've never attempted something like this, but I'm determined to do it!

All advice appreciated,

Justin.

 

Yes this will work.
Or you could buy a nice new drive, use the included software to clone the old drive to the new and use it as a replacement boot drive. Then you try booting to it and see if it is the drive or corruption of data.
Or clean install on the new drive, then put the old in as slave.
Note that XP may have problems if you connect a drive with a boot sector as a slave (it will want to include it as a boot option) which may mean you need additional steps later.

 

Unplug the computer, remove the cover and being careful to avoid static electricity, which will kill electronics, attach the disk to a connector on the ribbon cable and attach a power connector. You must also jumper the disk as slave. The ribbon cable has a stripe along one side that should be oriented toward the power connector.

If you have a tower, do this with it lying on its side after you open it. You don't have to attach the disk; just lay it on its top so electronics aren't touching the case or other components (avoiding a short) and reattach the power cord.

Turn it on and immediately enter the BIOS Setup program (watch the screen to see which key to press). Check that the disk is recognized. If it isn't, you may have to change the jumper on the master disk as well; don't forget to change it back when you're done getting the files.

Then exit with ctrl-alt-del and allow it to continue to boot. Booting to a windows startup floppy is your best bet. You can copy the files in DOS without the worry of the poorly working windows, e.g., xcopy c:\foldername\*.* d: .

Copy the information you need to the slave drive and shut down and unplug before removing it. Put it in a safe place, away from electrical equipment.

 

Hi Oshwyn and Sparrow.

Thanks for the advice

The only other question about the whole thing I have, is if I'm formatting the slave drive from the command line, do I need to use the /s switch? Does a slave drive need the system files on it?

Cheers one and all,

Justin

 

No, don't use /s for slave.

 

mission accomplished

Just a quick note to let everyone know the operation went as planned! I retrieved all of his photos and documents, by copying them onto the new slave drive, in safe mode, formatted the main hard drive, reloaded windows and copied the files from the slave back on to the main drive.

I also took the opportunity, while I had all of his photos and documents on one disk, to burn them all onto a backup cd for him. What a prince!

Thanks for the help all,

Justin

 

jridgeway3

Happy to help. Many thanks for the follow up.