My CF52 won't start... And I need some help to have this HDD shell crack opened too!

Hello everybody

Got a small problem here. I have a sys file that won't load, and my computer (XP Pro SP2) will not go beyond the loading screen. Safe mod doesn't work either, it just allowed me to find the file that was causing trouble (sptd.sys, something related to daemon tools apparently, well nevermind). My problems are numerous

- I though that maybe I could get my computer work properly if my recovery CD could repair my Windows install - but from what I see while booting from the Panasonic CD I am only given the option to reinstall windows and kill everything on my partition doing so (gulp), right?

- If I have to do that, I'll do it later. I need to make a backup of some HDD files first. I just realized the very existence of Recovery Pro minutes ago, so I guess it can't help me now. My first idea would be to simply take my HDD away, and plug it through an external adaptator into my other computer, so I can roam freely in the HDD, take what I need, before I make a big spring cleaning out of this mess. Problem is I just extracted the HDD, but I just don't know how to open the damn thing. I'd hate to damage it. But there are no screws, just plastic grips, or something... Could anyone help on that one? It looks like a tin box inside a plastic support.... Heeeelp!

Thanks in advance for your help on any of these points,

Fish

 

http://tim.id.au/laptops/panasonic/CF-52AJYZDZM.pdf

This may help. Page 9.1

 

Thanks Gork! Indeed, these 6 hooks are the problem here. I just don't understand how I can "remove" them, knowing they are not movable anyway... Do I have to be oudini or what?

 

Btw, if anyone has any clue about getting the usual recovery XP console from the recovery CD (it could have very well escaped me, Im not very good at all this...) that would help already (technically, I just have to rename the problematic sys file for it to work again)

 

No recovery console that I know of on the restore dvd as it's an image of the hard drive,not a windows xp disk

 

Haaaa ok, this explains why, thanks for the explanation. Well, as long as I won't be clever enough to get my HDD out of its case, I'll try to find some friend's XP CD and access the usual starting menu...

 

Here's a tip on this problem. Use paperclips. Try to find the larger size paperclips. Insert a paperclip between the plastic and metal shell right next to each "clip" If you have to use the smaller ones, use one paperclip on each side of the clips. Use enough paperclips to go around the full perimeter. Once you get to that point you will be able to pull up the metal shell with little effort.

I use the paperclips to seperate the metal shell and the plastic bit around that just enough to provide clearance for the clips to disengage.

This I know for a fact works beautifully for the CF-51 HDD caddies. From what I see for yours in the manual, it should work the same way.

 

Ho Man, that did it! Thanks a lot, that was very clever indeed!