Where can I find a 'rescue/emergency' cd for booting an XP laptop?

[topwebchoice]

How to rescue my friend's unbootable (even in safe mode) laptop by
copying files via *USB* to external drive?

Can't boot into safe mode in widnows xp pro. No xp oem cd to do 'repair
install'. No back up (is my friend's pc). Tech's couldn't get it booted
into windows despite many attempts, so please dont suggest that option!

I need a CD which is bootable and will let me boot the latop up with
USB support - so that I can copy important files/folders to an external
usb drive I have. Then we can reinstall windows and copy back the data
folders; thunderbird stuff, for email history, etc).

Will reinstall all applications, just want to save the data on the
laptop's internal drive (which is fine).

Prefer a free downloadable CD / tool that I can download to my laptop
and copy to a CD in order to boot her laptop. Then I will copy the
folders/files she needs to my external usb drive.

Is there such an 'emergency boot CD' available for download on the
internet? Needs to be able to read and copy her ntfs (windows pro)
files/folders onto the external usb drive; so it needs to have usb
support.

If there is an easier way to do this (copy her folders to the writable
CD, etc.) then I'm all ears.


Thanks!

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

How to rescue my friend's unbootable (even in safe mode) laptop by
copying files via *USB* to external drive?

Can't boot into safe mode in widnows xp pro. No xp oem cd to do 'repair
install'. No back up (is my friend's pc). Tech's couldn't get it booted
into windows despite many attempts, so please dont suggest that option!

I need a CD which is bootable and will let me boot the latop up with
USB support - so that I can copy important files/folders to an external
usb drive I have. Then we can reinstall windows and copy back the data
folders; thunderbird stuff, for email history, etc).

Will reinstall all applications, just want to save the data on the
laptop's internal drive (which is fine).

Prefer a free downloadable CD / tool that I can download to my laptop
and copy to a CD in order to boot her laptop. Then I will copy the
folders/files she needs to my external usb drive.

Is there such an 'emergency boot CD' available for download on the
internet? Needs to be able to read and copy her ntfs (windows pro)
files/folders onto the external usb drive; so it needs to have usb
support.

If there is an easier way to do this (copy her folders to the writable
CD, etc.) then I'm all ears.


Thanks!

Here are a couple of options :-

Ultimate Boot CD for Windows
http://www.ubcd4win.com/

Knoppix
http://www.knoppix.org/

With the UBCD4Win (and probably Knoppix also) you should have your USB
device pluged in and powered up before booting the CD.

 

[topwebchoice]

So, I dont need to hunt down specific drivers - just download these cd
'files' and burn them into a cd using my machine, then boot the sick pc
and I'm good to go?

Are these both free, or fee? Either is fine, just prefer least cost
method to help my friend out.

Thanks!

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

So, I dont need to hunt down specific drivers - just download these cd
'files' and burn them into a cd using my machine, then boot the sick pc
and I'm good to go?

Are these both free, or fee? Either is fine, just prefer least cost
method to help my friend out.

Thanks!

Both are free, they are "Live CD's", the UBCD4Win boots a standalone
version of XP whilst Knoppix is a self booting linux CD. I have had no
trouble booting either and copying data over from a sick HDD to a USB
stick. I did find however that the USB stick had to be plugged in
before booting the CD so that the OS would detect the device.

 

[Guest]

Another option that you can do is u can make your usb memory key bootable and
use the xcopy commands to copy that the file from the computer to the usb key
the other option is to use BartsPE it a free make it yourself bootable disk
and u can copy and burn files that way.

 

[Enigmatic Thinker]

Whilst UltimateBootCD4Windows is free, you need an XP cd available.

Robin

 

[topwebchoice]

The laptop in question has only a 'restore' (factor default) CD - which
would wipe all data on the drive and present a clean xp system. So,
then, UBCD would not work, it sounds like.

Perhaps I could make a BartPE CD on my laptop, and use it to boot hers?
Then copy her data folders over to the usb drive (hook it up to her
system first).

I actually got a copy of pcbeginner.com 'emergency' utilities CD
someone gave me, but don't know how to use it. It boots up and appears
to see the drive but I dont know if it will copy files over to a usb
drive/ext drive. Perhaps that will that work?

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

The laptop in question has only a 'restore' (factor default) CD - which
would wipe all data on the drive and present a clean xp system. So,
then, UBCD would not work, it sounds like.

Perhaps I could make a BartPE CD on my laptop, and use it to boot hers?
Then copy her data folders over to the usb drive (hook it up to her
system first).

I actually got a copy of pcbeginner.com 'emergency' utilities CD
someone gave me, but don't know how to use it. It boots up and appears
to see the drive but I dont know if it will copy files over to a usb
drive/ext drive. Perhaps that will that work?

If you do not have the facilities to create the UBCD4Win (which is
based on BartPE) or do not feel inclined to do this then try Knoppix
(http://www.knoppix.org/) this is a bootable Linux distribution, just
down load the .iso file (KNOPPIX_V5.0.1CD-2006-06-01-EN.iso) and burn
to a CD.

Do not be afraid of the word Linux, Knoppix is very user friendly and
will detect USB devices after boot up (I just tried this on my other
machine and it detected the Kingston USB stick when I plugged it in)
you should be able to just drag and drop the required files from the
sick machine to your USB device.