Backing Up Hard Drive and reinstalling OS

[lexismom]

I need to know if there is anyway to back up a hard drive without taking it somewhere to have it done. This is my problem:
My father ran a scan disk and a defrag overnight. When he went to reboot a message came up saying that a file was missing or corrupt. It was something like <windows root>system32. (sorry I don't have his computer in front of me.) I was on the phone with Dell for 6 hours. i can get into the BIOS menu and make changes there but nothing works. They told me to back up my hard drive and reinstall the OS. I would just reinstall the OS but he has pictures and documents on there that he didn't back up. I told him so but he didn't listen. Does anyone have any advice on how to to this myself or do I need to take it to a tech? I am really good at doing it if I have a direction to go with. Please help.

 

[paparazi]

The favoured way if you have a second PC is to install your fathers hard drive as slave to your master, browse to locate files and copy across onto yours, refit, re-install.

You may choose to connect his drive to yours again or easier, write the files to CDR or DVD and take the disc back to your fathers PC.

Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[edfair]

It depends on the OS. If it is 98 you could do an overlay install with little chance of losing anything if you are careful. If it is XP you could do a repair installation.
Neither of these solutions refer to your backup problem. You would get your OS working, then do a backup. You would be at risk of screwing it up if you are not careful.

If you have 2 thumbs or don't understand what you are doing Martin's advice is the better way to go.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[rvnguy]

If you need guidance this link might help...just carefully follow instructions

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341

If you are experienced at the command line you could try to replace the missing file with the repair console.

REPAIR CONSOLE:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prmc_str_bjid.asp

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[paparazi]

edfair
Are you suggesting I have two thumbs and don't understand what I am doing? LOL only joking mate

Reading Lexismom's post I was thinking about what was the safest way to retreive these pictures and documents.
Repair installs and overlays do carry a certain amount of risk and besides we don't know if he has an imminent hard drive failure on his hands or simple file corruption.
Always better to play it safe.
Martin



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