Corrupted keyboard/mouse files- How to transfer data?

[wjskin]

I own a Dell Dimension 8200 with Windows XP on it. It appears I have
corrupted files for both my keyboard and mouse. When I start the PC,
it tells me so...and I have no way to access the PC (at all). Windows
boots up fine and I can see my desktop (as well as the message. I
can't boot into safe mode because the keyboard is not available to do
so.

I have tried several shutdowns and bootups (with various mice and
keyboards). Still, no go. The PC refuses to download the necessary
software (automatically). I brought my PC to MicroCenter today. They
told me they would need to reformat the entire hard drive (deleting all
my files), however knowing how quickly these "PC experts" jump to the
last resort, I decided otherwise.

I have decided (after almost 4 years), it's time for a new PC.
However, when the new PC arrives, I would like to transfer files from
the old to the new (I have backups on much of this, but not enough).
My question is: how do I backup data from a PC (which cannot be
accessed via mouse or keyboard)? I have used software (i.e., laplink)
in the past, however, it always involved creating the connection at
both ends (new and old PC). Sort of a push-pull. However, my
situation will be purely extracting data without the benefit of the
"nudge".

Any assistance here would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Unless your whole hard drive is shared on a network, it sounds like you have
to put you hard drive in another computer that has a working mouse and
keyboard.

 

[wjskin]

Thanks,

This is what I'm leaning toward doing.

I appreciate the reply.

Bill

 

[John Wunderlich]

(e-mail address removed) wrote in

I own a Dell Dimension 8200 with Windows XP on it. It appears I
have corrupted files for both my keyboard and mouse. When I start
the PC, it tells me so...and I have no way to access the PC (at
all). Windows boots up fine and I can see my desktop (as well as
the message. I can't boot into safe mode because the keyboard is
not available to do so.

I have tried several shutdowns and bootups (with various mice and
keyboards). Still, no go. The PC refuses to download the
necessary software (automatically). I brought my PC to
MicroCenter today. They told me they would need to reformat the
entire hard drive (deleting all my files), however knowing how
quickly these "PC experts" jump to the last resort, I decided
otherwise.

I have decided (after almost 4 years), it's time for a new PC.
However, when the new PC arrives, I would like to transfer files
from the old to the new (I have backups on much of this, but not
enough). My question is: how do I backup data from a PC (which
cannot be accessed via mouse or keyboard)? I have used software
(i.e., laplink) in the past, however, it always involved creating
the connection at both ends (new and old PC). Sort of a
push-pull. However, my situation will be purely extracting data
without the benefit of the "nudge".

Any assistance here would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Have you tried booting into Safe Mode?

One solution I've used in the past was to boot from a Knoppix CD.
Then you can use the network to transfer files to another machine.
This works well if you have a laptop and can't easily insert the disk
into another machine.

<http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html>

Another solution is to create a Bart PE CD and boot from that

<http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/>

If you have a real Windows XP install disk, you might also checkout
the Microsoft Article:

"How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341/en-us>

HTH,
John