Laptop Death - recovering data

D

Dormyr

New Member
Hi, this is my first post on this forum. Whilst looking for a 'computer forum' it's difficult to believe I managed to overlook this one...

Anyway, my laptop recently died, I can't mend it . I removed the hard drive and used an external enclosure to access the data via USB to my desktop PC. The data is intact. However, I can't access it because my Windows User Profile on the laptop OS (XP) had a password to protect it. I know the password, is there any way I can access this data myself? Can I take ownership of it from another PC?

I am cautious to try anything without first asking for advice.

HELP

Cheers, D
 
in the bios of the PC that you hooked it up to, change boot device priority so that USB or removable media is first in the list, it should boot from the hard drive enclosure, which is your HDD with XP on, and you can just copy the files that you want over
 
Aastii said:
in the bios of the PC that you hooked it up to, change boot device priority so that USB or removable media is first in the list, it should boot from the hard drive enclosure, which is your HDD with XP on, and you can just copy the files that you want over
Click to expand...

If he moved his HDD to another computer then this might not work because the drivers and the registry files on that HDD will be completely uncompatible with the computer's hardware...

Anyway you can recover your data very easily by using NTFS4DOS which you can boot from the CD or Linux Ubuntu 9.04 which you can also boot from the CD or even USB stick...



Cheers!
 
S.T.A.R.S. said:
If he moved his HDD to another computer then this might not work because the drivers and the registry files on that HDD will be completely uncompatible with the computer's hardware...

Anyway you can recover your data very easily by using NTFS4DOS which you can boot from the CD or Linux Ubuntu 9.04 which you can also boot from the CD or even USB stick...



Cheers!
Click to expand...

I know that it may not work with a different system, however quite a bit of the time it will work, but will either be very slow, or maybe have instability problems or programs crashing and that, but so long as he can get to the drive long enough without it causeing problems for him to get the files he needs over, he's laughing.

Didn't think of the ubuntu disc idea, but +1 for it, probably the easiest solution
 
Here's Hopin'

Thanks for the help guys. I'm thinking that all I need to do is be in the OS long enough to remove the password. Once the password is gone I can then access the files through the external USB drive on any PC.

I'll give it a try and look into the advice you've given. Once again; my thanks.

Cheers, D
 
S.T.A.R.S. said:
If he moved his HDD to another computer then this might not work because the drivers and the registry files on that HDD will be completely uncompatible with the computer's hardware...

Anyway you can recover your data very easily by using NTFS4DOS which you can boot from the CD or Linux Ubuntu 9.04 which you can also boot from the CD or even USB stick...



Cheers!
Click to expand...

This seems correct. I have tried to boot from the external drive by changing the priority to the external drive, this didn't work. It could be the computer not being able to handle the function.

I have taken your advice and downloaded NTFS4DOS. However, it is only bootable from a floppy disk. I tried to boot this program and it wanted to run a scan but gave the message, "Type YES or the program will dismount all volumes" This concerned me, so I didn't go ahead with the program. Also, I cannot find any documentation as a manual for the program. The only documentation seemed to be about an Antivirus program of the same name.

Is there anything else I can do to recover the data, or can anyone offer any advice as to how to operate the program?

Cheers, D
 
What's the exact error message you get when trying to open the any folder when you're viewing it as a secondary hard drive? There's a program that lets you copy those files, but I can't remember the name of it. I know if I search for the error message I'll be able to find the program.
 
Dormyr said:
This seems correct. I have tried to boot from the external drive by changing the priority to the external drive, this didn't work. It could be the computer not being able to handle the function.

I have taken your advice and downloaded NTFS4DOS. However, it is only bootable from a floppy disk. I tried to boot this program and it wanted to run a scan but gave the message, "Type YES or the program will dismount all volumes" This concerned me, so I didn't go ahead with the program. Also, I cannot find any documentation as a manual for the program. The only documentation seemed to be about an Antivirus program of the same name.

Is there anything else I can do to recover the data, or can anyone offer any advice as to how to operate the program?

Cheers, D
Click to expand...

NTFS4DOS can also be booted from the CD.Anyway...NTFS4DOS is a harder way.Have you tryed Ubuntu 9.04 CD which I mentioned above too?Its much easier...Just boot from that CD,select "English" language then select "Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer" and when the Ubuntu fully loads and you get to the desktop,go to "Places" -> "Computer" and from there you can access your HDD with no problems and copy ALL the data from him to some other HDD or USB stick.



Cheers!
 
S.T.A.R.S. said:
Have you tryed Ubuntu 9.04 CD which I mentioned above too?Its much easier...Just boot from that CD,select "English" language then select "Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer" and when the Ubuntu fully loads and you get to the desktop,go to "Places" -> "Computer" and from there you can access your HDD with no problems and copy ALL the data...
Click to expand...

I have not used this program before so I will look into it. Will I be able to get past the Windows XP User Login password? This is the only thing in the way currently.

Last night I replaced the drive in a computer with this password protected drive. I entered in safemode and got as far as the screen where you select the Username/icon you want to use to log-in. However, the USB mouse and keyboards wouldn't work. So I tried a mouse with a PS2 connection and that won't work either. This surprised me as I thought they'd run straight from the motherboard and not the drive.

There MUST be a way to get past the &Q$(Q^"&£ password. I mean, if you can get that close in safemode. All I need to do is get in long enough to remove the password. I don't understand why the ps2 mouse didn't work. Power was being sent to it as the laser was powered.

I will look into the program you have suggested, thank you.
 
PohTayToez said:
What's the exact error message you get when trying to open the any folder when you're viewing it as a secondary hard drive? There's a program that lets you copy those files, but I can't remember the name of it. I know if I search for the error message I'll be able to find the program.
Click to expand...

Initially I tried accessing the data as an external drive. That way you have a folder-view of everything on the drive. I went to My Documents and the error message is, "Access is Denied". This is because of the Windows User password. I have tried to change the priority within the BIOS so the secondary drive is the first in the list. The error was Hard Drive not recognised or something similar it then said Boot from CD.

I'm going to try an IDE to SATR converter cable to access the drive using an older laptop. I think that might work.
 
voyagerfan99 said:
You can boot to a SLAX LiveCD and access the drive without an issue and copy your data over to a FAT32 formatted drive (I don't know how to get it to write to NTFS in SLAX)
Click to expand...

It wasn't my intention to ignore this comment, I have to confess that it's a litle over my head. I'm trying ubuntu. If I fail with that then I'll try other things. So far I have managed to get to the Ubuntu 'desktop' and I've seen my data through this OS. I just have to see if I can copy it over to another external USB drive. Booting the OS from CD means it's very unstable and it takes a long time to startup.

Fingers crossed.
 
Yes.With the Ubuntu you can copy ANYTHING you want.No matter if the Windows has password or not.;)
By the way...you can boot Ubuntu 9.04 from the USB stick too.But if you have already burned the CD and it works from it then use the CD instead.
 
Success!!!

This is a thank you for everyone who made suggestions to help me with this problem.

I have installed Ubuntu on a laptop and I am transfering the data from one drive to another now. Thank you for this information. As it happens, I am really enjoying using Ubuntu as an OS, I'm looking into it right now. I don't know how useful it will be with my music programs, but I think I like it as an OS for general use. Indeed, it is a refreshing change from Windows and in some ways more logical.

Thank you again, I am so pleased I found this place with constructive help.

Cheers, D
 
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