Will USB drive work with Recovery Console?

[Dave]

Hello

I just posted another message, "Can't run antivirus/malware to clean
system", about the need to use Recovery Console to get irreplacable files off
a virus infected PC.

Will a USB drive work with Recovery Console? If not, how can I get files
off the hard drive via Recovery Console?

Thanks - Dave

 

[smlunatick]

Hello

I just posted another message, "Can't run antivirus/malware to clean
system", about the need to use Recovery Console to get irreplacable filesoff
a virus infected PC.

Will a USB drive work with Recovery Console?  If not, how can I get files
off the hard drive via Recovery Console?

Thanks - Dave

Maybe if your PC's BIOS can use the USB for booting.

If not, you may need to look at BartBE. This may have USB loading as
part of its boot up process.

Also, it seems that Recovery Console "can" be installed onto the hard
drive and set up a Boot menu option to start it.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Backup your personal data, then do a format & clean install of Windows.
Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT fix this!

After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a network and before using a USB key that
isn't brand-new or hasn't been freshly formatted:

5 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/xppc.mspx

Also see:

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/spyware/prevent.mspx

Rogue Security Software - Microsoft Security:
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/rogue.mspx

 

[Dave]

Robear,

Thanks again for the useful info. Do you know if a USB drive will work with
Recovery Console to get the data backed up?

Dave

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[Patience is a virtue, Dave. <w>]

Robear,

Thanks again for the useful info. Do you know if a USB drive will work
with
Recovery Console to get the data backed up?

Dave

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Hello

I just posted another message, "Can't run antivirus/malware to clean
system", about the need to use Recovery Console to get irreplacable files
off
a virus infected PC.

Will a USB drive work with Recovery Console? If not, how can I get files
off the hard drive via Recovery Console?

Thanks - Dave

The answer is maybe. But, unless you've already reconfigured the scope of
the Recovery Console, you won't get to your data files anyway.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

"When you use the Windows Recovery Console, you can use only the following
items:
- The root folder
- The %SystemRoot% folder and the subfolders of the Windows installation
that you are currently logged on to
- The Cmdcons folder
- The removable media drives such as the CD drive or the DVD drive"

If the drive is really bad, remove it, set it aside, and get a new drive
(where I am, a new 160 gig drive is CND$60 and a 250 is $65). It's very
easy to "forget" about some files that you really do want to keep, such as
address books and emails. If you use MS products for mail and addresses,
the files are helpfully stored in hidden folders, so they are very easy to
miss. If you've formatted the drive and reinstalled, you won't get them
back. Getting a new drive and reserving the old one as-is ensures that you
won't lose any more data.

Install to the new drive, install the drivers, and apply all updates, then a
suitable anti-virus product. Scan the install, just to be sure.

Then, once that step is completed, attach the old drive, locate the files,
and copy them to the new drive. You can put them directly in place, and
they will be scanned as they are copied.

Do not just copy the entire profile structure contents, as it's very likely
that the Temp and Temporary Internet Files folders contain infected files,
and you'll get endless popups as you copy. It's best to clear all of those
folders, bypassing the Recycle Bin.

HTH
-pk