Boot CD that can copy an HD from an unbootable system?

[leppie]

http://trinityhome.org/Home/index.php?wpid=1&front_id=12[^] has always served me well. seems not to be updated anymore though.

xacc.ide
IronScheme - 1.0 RC 1 - out now!
((λ (x) `(,x ',x)) '(λ (x) `(,x ',x))) The Scheme Programming Language – Fourth Edition

[Dave Parker]

I think Clonezilla can do this, though I've only used it to create / restore an image file on the network of the HD in the local machine. It can boot from a USB stick as well.

[JoeSox]

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download[^] Live cd But if the hard drive is not spinning, good luck.

Later, JoeSox CPMCv1.0 - Last.fm - MyFriendfeed - Joesox.com

[vantoora]

From my side, I suggest you two things which can help you but it depends : 1. You can try to buy an adaptor LaptopHD -> IDE for Desktop, it is not very expensive but need to know the provider as it is very hard to find. 2. You can try to download a Linux LiveCD : * http://ophcrack.sourceforge.net/download.php?type=livecd[^] * or http://www.slax.org/get_slax.php[^] These two distro mount automatically ntfs partition and if connected to the network can get connection automatically too. You just need to burn on a CD and boot from it. Cheers,

[Chris Quinn]

I picked up a USB2 hard disk caddy for a laptop hard drive (2.5" IDE) on e-bay for less than 5 pounds for use in a similar situation - connect up the disk, plug into an available USB port, and away you go.

==================================== Transvestites - Roberts in Disguise! ====================================

[NitroAMD]

Maybe you can try REDO - http://redobackup.org

[oss_au]

we have many Solution for this problem the best one is using the (boot dead system CD) its based on windows XP i have the CD and used it alot for my work. Please search online for Boot Dead system (MiniPE) this CD has many programs and once u booted it will discover your network even if you have DHCP running will get a free IP and you can either retrive your files (incase your H.D.D damage) or copy them thro the network. hope it helps Good Luck Oss

Eloss

[Drozzy]

The podcast I'm listening to (Security now with steve gibson) swears by Spinrite hard-drive repair/recovery. Supposedly after running that on his laptop it may even boot: SpinRite

[JasonPSage]

Lean and Mean Puppy Linux Boot CD. Tiny, Linux, Networking, Able to read various file systems... http://www.puppylinux.org/main/index.php?file=Download Latest Release.htm

Know way too many languages... master of none!

[werD]

Parted Magic is by far the best option for this sort of thing. I've used it at least 10 times to save someone's arse. Cheers http://partedmagic.com/[^]

DrewG MCSD .Net

[GStrad]

linuxlive usb/[^] creates nifty USb pen drive installs, can use various linux flavours (I use ubuntu), can make them persistent and can also install virtual box so that you can run your key drive in a virtual machine in windoze. I've used it for no end of windoze fixing....

[Pete BSC]

If you can't find a software solution, you could try a hardware solution: [SATA/IDE to USB 2.0 Adapter] You can then connect the HDD to another computer that can read the file format on the hard drive and fetch the data off it.

[JohnNawrocki]

Not free but I have two items that are invaluable in retriving data from dead hard drives. One is an ide/sata to usb adapter. Remove the drive and plug it into the adapter and power supply and then into any usb port on another computer. www.microbarn.com The next is a very powerful piece of software - spotmau power suite. It will boot most any computer, actually puts you in a windows environment, better tham linux (just my opinion). I have used it to even recover data from a reformatted hard drive. www.spotmau.com

John Nawrocki Chief Technical Advisor Custom Molded Products

[patbob]

oss_au wrote:

its based on windows XP

While this is the best solution for maximum compatibility to the existing filesystem, it means you're stuck with Windows tools, which are pretty wimpy and poorly implemented. If there is nothing corrupt with the drive or filesystem, this is probably the best route to go. Otherwise, you'll have to do some research, and trial and error, to find some decent tools that actually work. Linux tools are more primitive, and not always as compatible, but work.

patbob

[Joel Ivey]

Well, sometimes having your backup doesn't help. I have run onto a similar problem, my Windows XP machine died and I have the hard drive (and backups), but I haven't been able to get it into a machine to bring it back up. I would prefer to stay with XP for that disk, since users that I program for still use only XP on their network [I do have other computers with Windows Vista and 7 on them]. The disk was IDE (I guess now PATA), and all the new systems only use SATA drives. I did get a clone onto a SATA disk, and tried to bring it up with an unused copy of XT (with SP 2), but apparently the new computer (which came with Windows 7) needs drivers that aren't on the XP disk. I'm still looking for a system I can bring the disk up in. And yes, I can read from the disk (and the clone), but that isn't helping.

[Snowman58]

My favorite: Hirens Boot CD[^] Has most of the tools one would ever need.

Melting Away www.deals-house.com www.innovative--concepts.com

[oss_au]

hi Please dont make any comment before u see the CD i am a linux fan as well. but the CD im talking about has much more tools than u think if u have another solution id love to hear from u. Please tell me one Linux box has all this utilities as a portable which cover: 1-File System. Fixing tools 2-Data Recovery. even after formating the HDD 3-AntiVirus 4-Partiotion and much more this CD saved my Life once and some clients too. thanks for ur comment but i excepted more than just a comment comparing between two System and we dont help this guy who struggling for help. Cheers

Eloss

[patbob]

Apparently there is more than one Windows live CD out there going by the name of MiniPE -- yours has all those useful tools, mine does not. That might make a huge difference in my opinion. Apparently, I need to find a copy of the one you have and ditch mine :) I didn't say that the Linux tools were better, just that they worked for what they did, unlike (standard) windows tools which sometimes do not. My experience with windows tools for HDD problems has been that not all work as advertised, but all seem to work as advertised. It always seems to take a bit of hunting to find ones that actually work.

patbob