Corrupt OS on ThinkPad - Can't Boot - Need Data form HDD 1

[C21Jim]

I deleted something I shouldn't have on my ThinkPad running WIN 2000 Pro and now when I try to boot I get a message The system cannot log you on now because the domain Thinkpad is not available. I've been told that means the OS is corrupt and that I need to use the recovery disk to re-install, but I would like to recover some data before re-formatting. I can boot from the recovery CD and switch to the c: prompt. Using the DIR command I can see all my directories and files (with shortened 8-character names). I can also copy on to the floppy drive, but there are lots of files and many of them are too large for a floppy. What is my best solution here?

Thanks,

C21Jim

 

[wolluf]

Buy (or borrow) either a usb enclosure or IDE adapter which will let you connect the thinkpad's hard drive to a PC (you'll obviously need to remove the drive from the laptop), and just copy what you need.

 

[C21Jim]

Thanks Wolluf. That sounds straightforward enough. I will give it a shot this weekend - probably the IDE adapter solution since it sounds cheaper - and let you know how it went.

C21Jim

 

[C21Jim]

Problem solved. The enclosure was only $25 and I may be able to start using it as part of my offsite backup routine, so I went that route.

Thanks again

C21Jim

 

[Xemus]

Also, there is a solution for that here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/244671/EN-US/

http://www.closedsocket.com