Need to extract data from my laptop.

[Gooser]

I've got irrecoverable errors on my Dell Inspiron e1405 with Windows Vista Ultimate. Dell's terrific warranty only covers hardware problems. How can I get my data off the hard drive? None of the restore points work, it can't fix itself, and I cannot boot to safe mode. I can only get to a command prompt in the System Recovery Options. I have an ethernet port, wifi, USB, a DVD writer, etc. but how can I use any of this from the command prompt to extract my data?

I tried to network with my desktop PC using a crossover cable, but couldn't figure out how to set the IP address on the laptop from the command prompt. netsh allows me to set the IP address on my XP desktop, but I can't figure out netsh on the vista machine. Any ideas on how to extract the data before I do a complete restore would be greatly appreciated. I'm a dba by trade, so I know enough about this stuff to get myself into trouble, I just can't seem to figure out how to get my data off.

One solution I've considered is removing the hard-drive and getting a cable to interface it to my regular IDE cable and set it up as a slave in my desktop. I'm 99% sure this would void the warranty, so I'd like to avoid this if at all possible.

Thanks,
Gooser

 

[eyec]

at the Command prompt type chkdsk /r
this will try to repair the boot records, maybe fix the problem.

but first, if you have the Dell Diagnotisc/Restore CD put it in you pc turn it off and boot to it - hit f2 or f12 to get into the bios to select to boot from cd first. if you can get this far do a Repair install.

 

[Gooser]

eyec,

Thanks for the response, but it is a little off the mark. I've tried all that, and the disk has errors that can't be fixed. Dell suggests that I restore to factory settings.

My problem with that is that I have data I'd rather not lose on the disk. My question is NOT how to fix the disk--I believe it to be beyond repair--my question is how do I retrieve any salvageable data before I restore to original factory settings?

Thanks,
Stephen

v/r

Gooser

Why do today
that which may not need to be done tomorrow --me

The Universal Model

 

[eyec]

then restore to factory settings. as long as you do not format the HDD your data should still be there.

 

[Gooser]

eyec,

My data will be lost per Dell's instructions.

v/r
Gooser

 

[eyec]

ok, one more try. do a search for Barts Ultimate Windows Boot CD. boot from it and grab you data onto a flash drive.

 

[cdogg]

Gooser,
I understand the frustration. However, I don't think Dell is giving you all the options you probably have under that warranty. First of all, getting a bunch of OS errors, missing files and boot failures can be a sign of a failing hard drive. So doing an OS restore can actually waste time and/or prolong the problem.

Dell should walk you through running a diagnostic test on the hard drive (not using chkdsk) that checks for S.M.A.R.T. errors and bad sectors. Often this test will tell you whether or not the hard drive needs to be replaced (it is 100% accurate if it tells you the drive is bad, 98% accurate if it says the drive is good).


As for getting your data off the drive, you have the right to remove the hard drive from the system without voiding the warranty. Call them to double-check, but usually the warranty is voided when you open the main cover to access the motherboard. The hard drive, on the other hand, is usually in a easily accessible location. You would then use an adapter (I posted a link to one below) to connect it to a regular IDE cable in a tower PC.

http://www.directron.com/nbadapter.html

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[firewolfrl]

cdogg is right also you can use a USB adapter to pull data off the drive. it is a bit easier.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119151

and here is a cable that will do SATA too

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119018

I use the second one and it works great for pulling data.

 

[wahnula]

Another thought would be to boot to a Knoppix Linux CD (free download), see if you can view the files on the HDD. It's an easy task to move them from the hard drive to a USB flash drive without removing the hard drive.

I have an adapter like cdogg recommends, just be sure you locate pin 1 correctly on the hard drive before you connect the power. The connector will fit both ways, if you're not careful you could send 12 volts where you shouldn't. Learned this one the hard way.

For the same price of the USB devices above, you can buy an enclosure that protects the drive:

http://www.directron.com/sbteku25.html

or for SATA

http://www.directron.com/nst260subk.html

makes a nice choice, and has the option of eSATA hookup. Then, after all this is over, you can buy a 2.5" drive for the case to BACK UP your critical data regularly...

Tony

"If it can't take it, I don't want it

 

[cdogg]

Yes, Knoppix is an excellent option too, especially since it's a free download. Of course, you'd need to spend a few minutes trying to figure it out, but if time is on your side then it's kind of hard arguing with "free". Good one Tony...

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[Benighting]

I have had very good luck using Ultimate Boot CD for Windows (UBCD). It is necessary first to use a computer that can write to CDs or DVDs. Using the free download (~196 MB) on the working computer, you can create a disk that will boot into a (pretty much) full XP environment. Networking, accessing the internet, virus/spyware checking, etc., etc.--everything is available. Once created, you can put the disk into any computer, boot into a pre-install version of Windows XP, and then access any Windows files on the hard disk of the computer in use. You can copy files, move them, modify the registry, whatever.

http://www.ubcd4win.com/

Creating the disk will need some study and may take a little trial and error.

 

[Gooser]

Thank you all so much for the help and advice so far.

I've built me a UBCD and I have successfully booted the laptop. The bad news is, my files are encrypted so I can see that they are there, but I can't view or copy them. I have been trying to figure out how to extract and decrypt them, to no avail. This is outside of my normal comfort zone of what I typically work on, so I'm having some difficulty.

Does anyone know if there is a way to use the UBCD to copy the files to a stable computer and try to decrypt them there? Or, should I be taking some other approach? None of the files are of a critical nature, but there are a lot of pictures of the kids and some other things that I would prefer not to lose.

It is hurting me to have the laptop out of commission as it is my business laptop that I do my second job from. In the meantime, I am having to do this work from a 1995-vintage Thinkbook with no battery, which leaves me tethered to a docking station that weighs nearly as much as I do.

Thanks,
--gooser

 

[cdogg]

If you used Windows built-in EFS encryption scheme, then you're not going to have any luck decrypting them on another computer. They're locked down pretty d@mn tight if that's the case, and can only be decrypted under the original OS installation they were encrypted from. In addition, you would also have to be logged in as the user that initiated the encryption.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[cdogg]

Sorry, I should add that when you enable EFS, there is an option to make a recovery disk logged in as the System Administrator, which can decrypt the files. Unless that was done, there's no other method I know of.