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Recovering data from an IDE drive


Best Answer phillpower2 , 12 July 2020 - 09:47 AM

Here you go; =================== ***Required Hardware*** CD Burner (CDRW) Drive, Blank CD, Extra Storage Device (USB Flash Drive, External Hard Drive)  ===============... Go to the full post »


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#1
ADNoland

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I was given an HP Pavilion running Windows XP to try and get some pictures off of. The computer would turn on, but only to a black screen. I took the video card out and noticed that one of the capacitors was swollen, so I'm assuming that was causing the video issues. There was no onboard video and I had nothing old enough in regards to a video card or a computer to put the drive in so I ordered a USB drive kit to connect it to my PC.

 

I got the drive connected and Windows mapped it as two separate drives. One was a Kaspersky Rescue Disk. The second had two folders, HP and WINDOWS. The HP folder has an empty PATCHES.oth folder in it. The WINDOWS folder does not look like a drive folder. It looks like Windows ISO/install folder like you would use for a fresh install. Neither drive shows a C: drive, users folders, or anything else.

Do I have to treat this drive differently to access the Windows folder? Is this all the data that's on it? I've tried using the drive set to Master and and then CS Enabled without a difference. I've not tried using a drive this old in this way before. When I've done this with a SATA drive I just connect it and boom there's the data. 


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#2
phillpower2

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You could try booting your computer from a live Linux distro to see if you can mount the drive and access the contents that way, let us know if you want a tutorial for that option posting.


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#3
ADNoland

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Yes please. I can get a live distro running but past that I've got limited knowledge.
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#4
phillpower2

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✓  Best Answer

Here you go;

 

=================== 

***Required Hardware*** 

CD Burner (CDRW) Drive, 

Blank CD, 

Extra Storage Device (USB Flash Drive, External Hard Drive)  

=================== 

 

1. Save these files to your Desktop/Burn Your Live CD:

  • Download Latest Puppy Linux ISO (i.e.: lupu-528.iso) 

    Download BurnCDCC ISO Burning Software 

     

    There are instructions on how to boot from flash drive with puppy here; http://www.pendrivel...e-from-windows/ 

     

     

  • Open BurnCDCC with Windows Explorer 

  • Extract All files to a location you can remember 

  • Double Click 1%20BurnCDCC%20Icon.PNG BurnCDCC 

  • Click Browse 2%20BurnCDCC%20Browse%20Button.PNG and navigate to the Puppy Linux ISO file you just downloaded 

  • Open/Double Click that file 

    IMPORTANT: Adjust the speed bar to CD: 4x DVD: 1x 

  • Click Start 3%20BurnCDCC%20Start%20Button.PNG 

  • Your CD Burner Tray will open automatically 

  • Insert a blank CD and close the tray 

  • Click OK 

Puppy Linux Live CD will now be created 

 

2. Set your boot priority in the BIOS to CD-ROM first, Hard Drive Second 

  •  

  • Start the computer/press the power button 

  • Immediately start tapping the appropriate key to enter the BIOS, aka "Setup" 

    (Usually shown during the "Dell" screen, or "Gateway" Screen) 

  • Once in the BIOS, under Advanced BIOS Options change boot priority to: 

    CD-ROM 1st, Hard Drive 2nd 

  • Open your ROM drive and insert the disk 

  • Press F10 to save and exit 

  • Agree with "Y" to continue 

  • Your computer will restart and boot from the Puppy Linux Live CD 

     

    4%20BIOSBootPriorityImage.png 

 

 

 

3.  Recover Your Data 

  • Once Puppy Linux has loaded, it is actually running in your computer's Memory (RAM).  You will see a fully functioning Graphical User Interface similar to what you normally call "your computer".  Internet access may or may not be available depending on your machine, so it is recommended you print these instructions before beginning.  Also, double clicking is not needed in Puppy.  To expand, or open folders/icons, just click once.  Puppy is very light on resources, so you will quickly notice it is much speedier than you are used to.  This is normal.  Ready?  Let's get started. 

     

    3a. Mount Drives 

  • Click the Mount Icon located at the top left of your desktop. 5%20Puppy%20Linux%20Mount%20Icon.PNG 

  • A Window will open.  By default, the "drive" tab will be forward/highlighted.  Click on Mount for your hard drive. 

  • Assuming you only have one hard drive and/or partition, there may be only one selection to mount. 

  • USB Flash Drives usually automatically mount upon boot, but click the "usbdrv" tab and make sure it is mounted. 

  • If using an external hard drive for the data recovery, do this under the "drive" tab.  Mount it now. 

 

3b. Transfer Files.

  •  

  • At the bottom left of your desktop a list of all hard drives/partitions, USB Drives, and Optical Drives are listed with a familiar looking hard drive icon. 

  • Open your old hard drive i.e. sda1 

  • Next, open your USB Flash Drive or External Drive. i.e. sdc or sdb1 

  • If you open the wrong drive, simply X out at the top right corner of the window that opens. (Just like in Windows) 

  • From your old hard drive, drag and drop whatever files/folders you wish to transfer to your USB Drive's Window. 

 

For The Novice:  The common path to your pictures, music, video, and documents folders for XP is: Documents and Settings >> All Users (or each individual name of each user, for Vista and above  C:\Users\$USERNAME\[...]. CHECK All Names!) >> Documents >> You will now see My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos

 

Remember to only click once!  No double clicking!  Once you drag and drop your first folder, you will notice a small menu will appear giving you the option to move or copy.  Choose COPY each time you drag and drop. 

 

YOU ARE DONE!!!  Simply click Menu >> Mouse Over Shutdown >> Reboot/Turn Off Computer.  Be sure to plug your USB Drive into another working windows machine to verify all data is there and transferred without corruption. Congratulations! 

 

 

 

PuppyLinux528screenshot.png 

 


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#5
ADNoland

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I finally got around today to trying it and had no luck. I was excited when the drive popped up and I saw some additional folders, one being a RECYCLE folder, but it was empty and just a hidden folder I'm assuming. When I clicked on the WINDOWS folder again, it brought up the same information I was seeing when I had the drive pulled up in Windows. 


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#6
phillpower2

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Sorry to say but based on certain info in your OP and above it suggests to me that the original active C: partition has been deleted somehow  :(


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#7
ADNoland

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I appreciate you taking the time to help me. They told me they've got another tower that's the same age so I'm going to try and put the drive in that and boot with it to see what happens. I figure it's the last ditch effort. 


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#8
phillpower2

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Yep, last roll of the dice but you will at least have tried every option available to you.

 

You are welcome btw  :)


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