I can not accessed NTFS windows partition.

[zillah]

I have got Laptop with WinXP SP2, I can not accessed the my windows OS now, what should I do to retrieve my important data which I backed up some of them and then rest are still there.

I tried to use Partition Commander V8 to copy the NTFS (where windows XP resides) partiton to external HD (USB cable) , I was able to copy it (it took 4 hours) , but when I tried to read eteranl HD from another PC Desktop (Healthy one), it showed me unknow partition!!!

When I tried to plug the external HD (USB cable) again to the laptop (that has probelm), the partition commander could not see the exteranl HD ,,,,,,,,,,,I do not why?

Any clue please

[snoozy]

I share your pain...

I think you can make a boot disk that will let you access the harddisk. e.g.

http://www.ntfs.com/boot-disk.htm

Not sure how you would get the files off though if you find them? I think there's a boot disk somewhere that gives network support too.

Probably easiest to just take the HD out of the laptop and pop it into a usb cradle. Very handy bit of kit they are, under a tenner on ebay.

good luck

[zillah]

I think you can make a boot disk that will let you access the harddisk. e.g.

I have got very powerfull bootable CD which Hiren's Boot CD.

Tell me what I have to ?

Thanks

[snoozy]

Look in the section about NTFS tools:

NTFS Tools
NTFS Dos Pro 5.0
To access ntfs partitions from Dos

NTFS 4 Dos 1.4
To access ntfs partitions from Dos

NTFS Dos 3.02
To access ntfs partitions from Dos

EditBINI 1.01
to Edit boot.ini on NTFS Partition


I haven't got the disk so have no idea how to use any of them. I think the usb cradle is your best bet..

[zillah]

Probably easiest to just take the HD out of the laptop and pop it into a usb cradle. Very handy bit of kit they are, under a tenner on ebay.

Yes this what I am doing now.

But what about the OS,,,do I need to reinstall every thing again ?
I hate to do that, unless I have to another choice.

[snoozy]

Start the Windows installation again and it may offer to make a repair instead. Even if you do a full windows install I think your data should be left intact? It depends on why Windows stopped working in the first place. Hopefully the HD is OK?

[zillah]

Start the Windows installation again and it may offer to make a repair instead. Even if you do a full windows install I think your data should be left intact?

This is what I did before posting my thread here. The repair option (not fresh installation) went through, but it stucked (hang up) where it says : Driver installation 34 minutes left.

Then blue windows poped up ( I could not catck what has been written on it) and the windows restared the process again.