Move files to external hard drive to format

[Anon]

Hello,
I currently have a computer that will not properly boot, so I was
wondering if there was a way to move all the files from my current hard
drive to an external hard drive, then format the hard drive on the
computer and reload the files I know are "clean" or would my only
option be to buy a new hard drive, install windows xp on it, and then
move the files from the old hard drive to the new one?

Thanks.

-Jason

PS I have a 160gb maxtor external hard drive and a 160gb hard drive in
my Dell Dimension 8400. I can also boot to the recovery console, but
safe mode is quite difficult to access and I'm not 100% if I can even
access it anymore. If you have any other questions just ask.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

If you have access to another working XP machine, look into Bart's PE. Great utility that creates a mini Windows environment. You can then copy files from the internal to external drive using the bootable CD.

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

 

[Ground Cover]

It depends.

Check the system's memory: use Memtest86 [well known utility from
www.memtest86.com] - you boot from a floppy disk to use it.

If the computer is more than a couple years old you might consider the mobo
battery - perhaps it needs replacing? It's not unheard of.

If the harddrive is faulty and failing then get a new harddrive - but before
declaring it faulty, make sure the cables are properly plugged in and have
not come loose.

If there's a deep extensive malware infestation, use a zero-fill utility on
the harddrive, then partition, format, and install Windows clean. You can
get a good zero-fill utility from Maxtor: MaxBlast4 - get the one you can
use on a floppy - drill through the menus and you will find a zero-fill
utility. You can do a full zero-fill which writes zeros to the entire drive
making it like factory new .. on a large drive it can take hours.

 

[Anon]

Thanks for your help guys. I think I'm just going buy a hard drive that
i'll install windows onto it and then just reformat my current hard
drive and then use a new hard drive to back up the extremely important
information and the backup files. Anyone know of a website/store I
could get a cheap hard drive (under $50 used or new) thats around 50gb?

It depends.

Check the system's memory: use Memtest86 [well known utility from
www.memtest86.com] - you boot from a floppy disk to use it.

If the computer is more than a couple years old you might consider the mobo
battery - perhaps it needs replacing? It's not unheard of.

If the harddrive is faulty and failing then get a new harddrive - but before
declaring it faulty, make sure the cables are properly plugged in and have
not come loose.

If there's a deep extensive malware infestation, use a zero-fill utility on
the harddrive, then partition, format, and install Windows clean. You can
get a good zero-fill utility from Maxtor: MaxBlast4 - get the one you can
use on a floppy - drill through the menus and you will find a zero-fill
utility. You can do a full zero-fill which writes zeros to the entire drive
making it like factory new .. on a large drive it can take hours.

 

[Bob I]

Pick your price point
http://www.pricewatch.com/hard_drives/

Thanks for your help guys. I think I'm just going buy a hard drive that
i'll install windows onto it and then just reformat my current hard
drive and then use a new hard drive to back up the extremely important
information and the backup files. Anyone know of a website/store I
could get a cheap hard drive (under $50 used or new) thats around 50gb?

Hello,
I currently have a computer that will not properly boot, so I was
wondering if there was a way to move all the files from my current
hard drive to an external hard drive, then format the hard drive on
the computer and reload the files I know are "clean" or would my only
option be to buy a new hard drive, install windows xp on it, and then
move the files from the old hard drive to the new one?

Thanks.

-Jason

PS I have a 160gb maxtor external hard drive and a 160gb hard drive
in my Dell Dimension 8400. I can also boot to the recovery console,
but safe mode is quite difficult to access and I'm not 100% if I can
even access it anymore. If you have any other questions just ask.

It depends.

Check the system's memory: use Memtest86 [well known utility from
www.memtest86.com] - you boot from a floppy disk to use it.

If the computer is more than a couple years old you might consider the mobo
battery - perhaps it needs replacing? It's not unheard of.

If the harddrive is faulty and failing then get a new harddrive - but before
declaring it faulty, make sure the cables are properly plugged in and have
not come loose.

If there's a deep extensive malware infestation, use a zero-fill utility on
the harddrive, then partition, format, and install Windows clean. You can
get a good zero-fill utility from Maxtor: MaxBlast4 - get the one you can
use on a floppy - drill through the menus and you will find a zero-fill
utility. You can do a full zero-fill which writes zeros to the entire drive
making it like factory new .. on a large drive it can take hours.