copy files in dos???

I have a Windows xp laptop that is not bootable. It there a way in dos to copy off the files? I keep getting access denied. I booted with a windows 98 boot disk.
Thanks

 

Hi Sue,

There are ways to boot and copy file outside of Windows XP but none of them are very user friendly.

Before getting into that, why not try something easier.

Go to http://www.spicybytes.com/zzz/bootdisks/ and download the xpboot.exe file. Run it and let it prepare a boot disk for you. Then do a cold boot with that disk inserted in the bay and see if you get into a Windows session. Post back your results and we'll go from there.

 

that allows me to get to the cd rom, not the c drive. any other idea?

 

I'm sorry, That boot disk isn't what I thought it was. Make a batch file and run the following script on an operational XP machine and it will create what I had in mind:

*********xpboot.bat code ********

@echo off
@echo This script will create a boot disk for Windows XP.
@echo Press any key to proceed or press CTRL+C to cancel.
pause > nul
FORMAT A:
XCOPY C:\NTLDR A:\ /H
XCOPY C:\NTDETECT.COM A:\ /H
XCOPY C:\BOOT.INI A:\ /h
pause

*********end of code*******

If you're not comfortable with creating a batch file, just run the lines from a command prompt starting with the Format A: line, pressing enter after each line. Have a disk in the A: bay of course.

That will make a boot disk that you can cold boot with and be delivered up to a Windows XP session, IF there was merely something wrong with your boot up files.

 

That didn't work. When I turn on the xp machine I get the following error: A disk read error occurred. Ctrl alt del to restart.
It will restart to the same error.

any help would be useful. I need to atleast copy off the files.

 

I'm sorry Sue but it doesn't look good now.

If you were successful in creating that disk and you got that error upon booting with it, it would mean that the boot loader files were not the problem. I will assume that you tested the disk on the machine that created it or any other XP machine, just to be sure all was right with it.

If so, you apparently have some other problem with the HDD and will need to use some other method to access it. It's possible that the media surface may be damaged. If this be true, there isn't much hope aside from sending it to a professional data recovery firm and paying their price.

As a last resort, you could try doing a repair install of XP by booting to the install cd directly (change bios setting to boot cd drive first). The hope is slim but at least that would confirm that it's a hardware problem and not software related.

Good luck.

 

I tried the repair from the xp cd. When it asked for the admin password, it would not accept the password. I am positive I typed it in correctly all 3 times. Now I can't get back to that point.

The problem is: I have about 600 xp laptops and I get this error about twice a week. Loosing files isn't an option.

Thanks for helping.

 

That sets you up for some forks in the road.

1. Data recovery pros ($$)

2. Contact MicroSoft for passwork crack assistance

3. Try loading the drive as a slave on another machine.

 

And last but by no means least, boot to the Recovery Console (press the f8 key repeatedly immediately after post) and see if any of the options offered there help.

Also there is a program called NTFSDOS that can boot to a command prompt and read/write/copy files on NTFS partitions but it is pricey ($300). It assumes a healthy readable disk however and you may not have one. Also, Drive Image ($70) can copy entire partitions to other media, but again, you gotta have a healthy drive. It need not be bootable, just readable using its FAT.


Drive Image has some advantage in that once you image a partition, you can pluck individual files or folders from the image and send them where you like without restoring the entire partition.

 

www.sysinternals.com has a program that is supposed to be able to pull data across the network from a "dead" drive. Not sure exactly how it works but their utilities (at least the ones I've used over the years) have all been so rock-solid that if they claim it, I believe it.

Also - while I haven't tried it from XP, with W2K when you boot from the CD and pick the "recover" option, there is a "fast repair" selection that doesn't ask for any password. And it usually seems to fix things for me. Rarely need the recovery command line thing.

 

Indeed Newt, Sysinternals makes the good stuff. That's where I got the NTFSDOS program I mentioned. Sometimes their price gives pause though. I must admit though, it works like a champ!

Here's the Sysinternals Winternals lineup. The Admin Pack sound like it would be good Sue, but it's a little pricey for me so i haven't tried it yet.

edit; I just noticed they have a read-only freeware version of NTFSDOS if that would help you. It would allow copying from the NTFS volume to other media. I suspect the only removable media it recognizes will be the floppy drive in this free version. Not sure though.

 

The reason recovery will not take my password is because I use sysprep on all of our laptops. Is there a way to get around this? I am probably going to purchase some 3rd party software to help me out, but am still puzzled about the password.

Thanks

 

According to Q308402 Microsoft has a hotfix you can get by contacting them that will correct the problem.

BTW - if you've never run into a similar situation where they say a fix is available and to contact Microsoft, you will not find a copy anywhere except at the passworded site they will point you to.

 

The first course of action should have been to boot into the RC. Once there, if you didn't know what to do, typing help would have brought the whole amount of options at your disposal. The RC is a much more powerful tool than most people think. It is the DOS of NT. Most likely it is already too late, but if you can get to the RC type "Help" and see what the options are.

fix /mbr

should have been one of the first things to do.

Other than that, don't worry, just connect the HDD to another one and copy the whole contents, that will preserve your data. Good luck.

 

Newt, Your link sure hits the nail on the head about the access issue. Maybe Sue will be able to get the things fixed if she can get access.

Format, the fix /mbr won't help since the boot disk she used bypassed the hard drive mbr and all other boot loader files. That was why it was used, to eliminate those possibilities. Booting with a floppy of that type is a good diagnostic step and can never do any harm. Over 90% of the time, this floppy boot procedure will allow booting to Windows. NT rarely get that messed up.