HELP! on Recovering Data - Corrupt 'System' file

[John]

Hoping to get some pointers on recovering some large data/document files and
old email from a recently failed hard drive that was running XP SP2.

It will NOT boot or restore/repair - even to ANY safe mode - because the
config/system file(s) mysteriously became corrupted after I loaded Norton
2005 AV. As luck would have it my most recent backup (on DVD) was accidently
overwritten by my son downloading music (now recovering in the local
hospital from several broken bones I gave him). I tried loading previous
restore points manually in XP's Recovery Console mode, but it will STILL not
boot - just continually auto starts in a loop and complains about 'corrupt
windows/config/system file.' I can get into the manual Recovery Console mode
fine (see all the files), but trying to 'copy' or recover hundreds of files
on to other media via XP's Recovery Console is tedious to say the least.

Anyway... I now bought a new hard drive and have it loaded with XP SP2, and
I would like to know what would happen if I just take the old drive and hook
it up as a "slave" (non boot) to the new one (both drives are XP SP2 and
formatted NTSF single partions on 'c')?

Would I then be able to access the data files that I am trying to recover...
or would the computer even recognize or allow access to the old drive since
it has an operating system loaded on it AND has the same drive letter
designation of 'c'?

ANY advice is most welcome. I really NEED to recover those data files and
old email.

thanks

John

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Install the drive, the letters change. Take 'ownership' of the data.

HOW TO Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q308421


..

 

[John]

Install the drive, the letters change. Take 'ownership' of the data.

HOW TO Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q308421

Worked great... THANKS!