Help!: Trying to recover files from a pc that won't boot.

AndersonButler

I've given up trying to get windows to boot, see thread here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4012321

Whats the best/easist way to recover files from the hard drive (photos) , I can see there are still there from when i tried to recover to a system image using the windows dvd, i had no image to install from unfortunately.

I've googlesd this but can't find a definitive answer, so hoping someone on here can help.

I backed up a couple of months ago but want to try to recover the files in case the files don't restore from the back up.

prowla

You could try booting the PC from a Linux "Live" CD (it will run an OS straight from the CD without having to install), and then see if you can access your hard disk.

Alternatively you could take the hard disk out and put it into an external USB caddy, which you could then try and read using another computer (or your existing one if you get a new hard disk for it and install an OS onto that).

AndersonButler

prowla wrote: »

You could try booting the PC from a Linux "Live" CD (it will run an OS straight from the CD without having to install), and then see if you can access your hard disk.

Alternatively you could take the hard disk out and put it into an external USB caddy, which you could then try and read using another computer (or your existing one if you get a new hard disk for it and install an OS onto that).

Ok thanks fro the advice. What do I do if I access the hard drive using a Linux live cd?. Can I then plug in an external hard drive and copy the files across?.

Sorry for the stupid questions.

AndersonButler

prowla wrote: »

You could try booting the PC from a Linux "Live" CD (it will run an OS straight from the CD without having to install), and then see if you can access your hard disk.

Alternatively you could take the hard disk out and put it into an external USB caddy, which you could then try and read using another computer (or your existing one if you get a new hard disk for it and install an OS onto that).

Can anyone recommend a live cd, there are loads of versions. I'm struggling with this.

TakeThis

AndersonButler wrote: »

Ok thanks fro the advice. What do I do if I access the hard drive using a Linux live cd?. Can I then plug in an external hard drive and copy the files across?.

Sorry for the stupid questions.

Yes, you can.

You can use Ubuntu for that purpose. When you Boot up, use the Try Ubuntu option.

TakeThis

Have answered the question on your other thread, so perhaps try that first.

AndersonButler

TakeThis wrote: »

Yes, you can.

You can use Ubuntu for that purpose. When you Boot up, use the Try Ubuntu option.

As my pc isn't working, I'll have to use my work laptop to download Ubuntu, will that cause any issue, can I just save it to a USB stick?.

TakeThis

AndersonButler wrote: »

As my pc isn't working, I'll have to use my work laptop to download Ubuntu, will that cause any issue, can I just save it to a USB stick?.

See here...

AndersonButler

Thanks for your help, I've installed ubuntu and can access my files!.

Now just need to get a larger external hard drive to copy them across to.

Thanks for your help.

TakeThis

Don't forget your other thread. What is the spec and model detail of the offending machine?

googler

As you seem to have another working machine;

Take the HDD out of the faulty machine
Put the HDD in a USB caddy
Connect the caddy to the working machine
Copy/paste files from HDD in the caddy to the working machine