Other options that might be able to copy your data include:
(1) KNOPPIX version 3.8.1, a free LINUX download, as an ISO file, that you
burn to CD on another computer, then use to boot your problem PC. I have
SATA disks on an ASUS P4S8X motherboard and this version of KNOPPIX
automatically accessed them without any additional drivers. Further, it can
see my NTFS partitions, as well as those that are FAT32.
Note: The KNOPPIX dopnload is about 700 Meg, so do it on a PC with
high-speed internet access. Further, to burn an ISO to CD you will need
something like Nero or Easy CD Creator. The default XP burning software
will not do it.
link to knoppix:
http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
(2) Make a Bart's PE builder bootable CD. This is a much smaller sownload,
but ulimately it might take longer than KNOPPIX, since you need to "build"
the CD ismage. Further, a Bart's CD made on one computer may not work on
another. I do not know the level of generality or compatibility. However,
Bart's will definitely want SATA drivers on a floppy, just like an XP
installation from a retail XP CD. (The Dell CD might not need rivers, but
then it might not be XP, but instead, just a key to unlock a hidden disk
image. Bart's is really a minuture version of XP, that has most access
restrictions removed. Note that if you already had a Bart's CD, it would be
the best bet for a fast save of the files.
link to Bart:
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
(3) Run the XP recovery console. That may alos you to copy files form the
problem disk to another internal hard drive. Unfortunatly, the recovery
console enforces some level of file security, so you may not be able to
assess files outside of the windows directory, unless you first pre-set some
registry keys. In fact, if the registry is corrupted in just the right way,
you may not be able to run the recovery console from the XP CD. I have
heard that Microsoft offers a free download of a floppy set that is similar
to the recovery console.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_rec.htm
http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/wxprcons.htm
http://www.xxcopy.com/xxcopy33.htm (near bottom)
(4) Run the Windows 2000 recovery console, if you can get hold of a 2000
CD. I recall reading that becasue it pre-dates XP, the security protections
of XP and its recovery console do not apply.
----- Info about XP recovery console options and what must be pre-set to
access and copy files:-----
By default, the recovery console asks for the local administrator password,
meaning the PW of the person you first installed XP. Other administrator
PWs will not work. If an OEM computer (e.g., Dell, Gateway), it may not at
all clear what to use.
Thus, avoid the whole problem by telling XP that no PW is required!
BUT, you can only do this if XP is running normally, because you have to use
REGEDIT. If a disaster happens it will be too late!
A related item is the SET command, which by default is NOT permitted in the
recovery console. It is very useful to have to copy files off of the PC, so
enable it. Again, this must be done while XP is running normally.
If you waste time like I did to try the XP help, you will go in circles and
get nowhere, at least with XP home, which talks about some local PC policy
thing that really is more of an XP professional concept.
Instead, just run REGEDIT and change two things that appear on the same
page:
Start à Run à Regedit
Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Setup\RecoveryConsole
Set the DWORD SecurityLevel value to 1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Setup\
RecoveryConsole
Set the DWORD SetCommand value to 1
Exit REGEDIT, reboot, and test the recovery console lack of PW and ability
to use SET, thereby copying any little file to A:\ or a ZIP, etc. Note that
before you can copy within the recovery console, you must issue the command:
Set allowremovablemedia = true
