Recovering files from a non-bootable WinXP HDD (motherboard died)

[holdenssx]

Hello all,

I am fixing a computer for my brother. After a recent storm the computer no longer boots.. The PSU still works, both RAM modules work, PCI cards work, so that leaves the motherboard. When the power button is pushed, absolutely nothing happens. There is a green LED on the motherboard that is lit. I also changed the CMOS battery.

So basically, he doesn't care about the computer anymore, as long as he gets his files.

I hooked the HDD up to another computer, booted into a working HDD, and from Windows explorer attempted to access the HDD's files, but a "You do not have permission blah blah blah" error came up.

Is there anything I can do to get these files back?

Thanks!

 

[PC eye]

Fortunately there are if you have a cd or dvd burner. Some live for cd-r Linux distros are just the thing for gaining access to stubborn partitions in order to rescue files from it. An older 2004 article sums up how to use Knoppix Live for cd or you can use a few other live versions since they are self contained OSs on a cd not a drive. The article on using Knoppix Live for this can reviewed at http://www.shockfamily.net/cedric/knoppix/

When booting up from a live distro the hard drives installed on a system appear as typical desktop shortcuts. This makes it easy to open two windows and get familiar with how to copy files between two drives.

 

[holdenssx]

Thanks for the info PC eye, I gained access to the files by simply booting into safe mode in the administrator account. So thankfully the problem is solved!

 

[PC eye]

That's a different approach to see working results. But keep the article there for a good reference anyways. I find Vista far more stubborn to get past the access denied errors when trying to get into the Docs+Settings folder and sub folders as well as under the users folder.

I now have to look at Knoppix for files in the Thunderbird inbox on Vista meant for Outlook Express but taken off the mail server when first setting up TBird on Vista. There I forwarded that mail to an online account and then forwarded back to the dsl account here to save an attached file. But still need Knoppix to see what the names are in the Mozilla folder for importing mail from TBird. Keeping a live distro onhand never hurts!