Computer Geek Help -- Recovery Software

[FergieTCat]

Could any of you geeks or technies recommend some good non-bootable recovery software? My laptop crashed, I can't load Windows XP, and I'm trying to fix the problem before I resort to reformatting the system.

For the true techies --

I tried using the recovery software that came with my laptop. I loaded it and got it to the recovery console. But, instead of going through the repair sequence, it gave me a c:\ prompt. Now what????

I have a feeling I know just enough to completely erase my c:\ drive, or at best reinstall it, which I really don't want to do because I don't want to lose the data which was never backed up (by me. Yes, I learned my lesson.)

Thank you for any help offered!!

 

[FergieTCat]

 

[BunsenH]

Does the Recovery CD include Windows or does it just access a copy of the original installation that's on your hard drive?

If it includes Windows, you should be able to boot to the CD and select a repair OS function rather than a replace.

What brand of laptop? Model?
Does it have a floppy drive?
Will your vital data fit on a few floppy disks?

Since you can get to a c:\ prompt, you may be able to copy files to a floppy.

 

[FergieTCat]

Does the Recovery CD include Windows or does it just access a copy of the original installation that's on your hard drive?

If it includes Windows, you should be able to boot to the CD and select a repair OS function rather than a replace.

What brand of laptop? Model?
Does it have a floppy drive?
Will your vital data fit on a few floppy disks?

Since you can get to a c:\ prompt, you may be able to copy files to a floppy.

There are 2 CD's that came with the laptop (HP ze5602) -- one is an OSD and one is a driver recovery. According to HP, the OSD has a recovery console on it, but, as I said, it didn't seem to do any repairs. It just lead me to a c: prompt.

There's no floppy drive, just a CD/DVD drive. I think I'm out of luck, but I want to try to a few more things before I reinstall the OSD. I was trying to find a reliable recovery program, but all I've learned is that Norton Ghost is NOT good.

Thanks for looking at my post.

 

[BunsenH]

If the C:\ prompt is active, perhaps this would work (pure speculation).

Rename the C:\Windows directory (Windows_Old)
Now the PC thinks there is no OS.
Install the OS without formatting the drive.
Applications won't work, but data files should be preserved.

 

[FergieTCat]

That sounds logical! Thank you!

Through other research on the Internet, I also found that I should trying typing fixmbr (fix master boot record) at the C prompt and see if it will repair itself.

Sulk! If I didn't have jpg's on there that I would really like to keep, I'd reinstall the whole thing.

 

[FergieTCat]

Double post ...