OS cannot logon :( .How can I extract my precious family photos from the harddisk?

Hi,

I have an dell inspiron 6400 laptop. Yesterday I encountered a software problem with this laptop.

My OS was not logging in. When I switch on my laptop I get the message that the laptop was not shutdowned properly and given the options:
1) safe mode(and all the similar options)
2) last know configuration
3)Start windows normally

I have received this message a couple of times before. I know that it is a common message. But now I am not able to log into my windows. Whatever option I select it is the same thing. It take me to the windows loading screen(the black with windows logo and below it the loading bar). Then the computer restarts and I am not able to see the logon screen with the user accounts. I am using windows Vista 32 bit.

Now I know that if I formatted my laptop everything will be fine. But I don't want to do that. I have large number of memorable photos of my family which I did not take a backup of them. I just want to be able to extract these pictures from the laptop. Then I will do format.

Now my question is how will I be able to copy these picture?

Can I do that with another OS or something like that?

Or I should connect my laptop harddisk to some cable to my PC and extract them?

If I can do that with a cable, can someone lead me to buy a cable for this?

I prefer the software method. That is why I posted in the "OS and software forums".

Sorry for the long post.

Hope to get some answer from the knowledgeable people over here.

Thanks

 

First of relax for a moment and don't do anything like formatting.

Getting the photos should be possible if you remove the hard drive and put it into an external case (which you'll have to buy) and then connect this to your another PC via a USB cable. With it connected you should be able to find your photos with a bit of searching.

So I'd recommend that you buy an external case locally or on the web and try this. What you're probably looking for is a 2.5" SATA External Case, like this one.

 

Linux Live CD - if you have an external storage media (USB HDD, USB Flash drive) you can boot from a Linux Live CD - it should then be possible to copy the files over - once the files are on an external USB medium you could check whether anything is missing on your PC.

Once you have backed up all data you can try to repair the installation.

 

Also theres a repair feature when using Vistas dvd (some dvds dont have that though like the ones AW ships with the laptop). Using that feature you can restore the computer to a previous date. Basically like the windows system restore.

Just make sure you know what are you doing and read carefully. You dont wanna choose the wrong options and start doing a clean Vista installation do you ?

Also you can put the hdd on a laptop that supports 2 hard disks, thats an easy way to transfer your files. And what the others said good luck.

 

No no I am not doing any formatting.

I have an external harddisk which is fittted in an enclosure. I tried fitting my dell's harddisk in the enclosure. But it is not fitting.

I just took some pics of the harddisk to show you

The first one is the dell's harddisk.

The second one is the harddisk which is inside the enclosure. You can see the connectors are different.

The third is the enclosure.

The dell's harddisk connector is different and don't fit in my enclosure.

Now my question is, Is there an enclosure for this harddisk?

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817801038

 

If your computer will boot from it's CD drive, the Linux live distribution is the easiest way to retrieve files off your hard drive.
As the live distribution runs off the CD and not the hard drive it will see the hard drive as storage and you will be able to access the files on it, with a bit of searching.
When you access the files you want, you can load them on to a USB thumb drive and then transfer them to another computer to save/print, etc.

THEN, you can format and reinstall your operating system.

Cheers

Malai5

 

The reason the Hdd doesn't fit the enclosure is because your Dell Hdd is SATA while the enclosure is for IDE Hdd. Just get a 2.5" SATA enclosure. Another easier method is to use Linux Live CD.

 

I tried the repair on the vista DVD. I have chosen the repair for startup option(not exactly sure what the name was but it was to repair startup problem). But that did not do anything. After that, after the window loading screen, the screen turns black with the mouse pointer. I can move the mouse pointer but everything is black so nothing to chose.

Anyway I did not format or anything. When I did the repair it told me that it will not effect my files. I am not a noob at all when it comes with software. I did formatted my laptop and pc many times before. So I will not probably format without knowing. Yes I am very careful and that is why I asked here before trying something else.

I don't know of anyone who have laptop with 2 harddisks. I will try calling my friend and ask them if their laptops have 2 internal harddisks.

 

I think this is the best option. I will try this.

First I will be reading something on this. I will try google for the linux live cd.

If you can give me a link that can help, I well appreciate it.

 

Thanks for the info on this. Now it is very clear for me. I will try this first.

 

I never knew that. Thanks for the help.

Now I think I will get the enclosure first. I will go search for it today.

I think it is safer than the linux live CD.




Thanks everyone for the help.

You guys are very fast.

Now all my tension is gone

 

This Linux distribution works well with most PCs and I have used it lots of times to solve problems with Windows.
As a stand alone Linux distribution it is really a very viable alternative to Windows, but that is another story.
The link below is to download an "ISO" Image file to burn to a CD and then boot up to access your windows files.


http://www.pclinuxos.com/index.php?option=com_ionfiles&Itemid=28

Cheers

Malai5

 

And when you resolve the problem, format your hdd to have at least 2 partitions. Because of problems like this, I never store my important files on the same partition as windows. So it's not a problem to format the C: partition with windows.

 

Like other people said, any live cd thing should easily do the job Dont worry

 

I do that for my PC. But the laptop is my mom's and she keeps everything in the desktop.

thanks for the advice

 

One question - where did you get the enclosure for the HDD - IDE?
I have been looking for one for some time.

 

2.5" enclosures

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...E&N=2010090092 1053807124 1054107130&name=IDE

 

try this
http://www.lancelhoff.com/how-to-fix-vista-mbr-repair-broken-vista/

 

Thanks everyone for the help.

I bought a $7 eSATA enclosure and I could get all my files from my Harddisk

I tried the same method but instead of choosing command Prompt in the sixth step, I chose Startup repair. I will definitely try this before formatting. Now I am backing all my data

 

I got it long ago may be 3-4 years back. They where selling in my country (Bahrain) external harddisks this way(2.5 harddisk + enclosure) because at that time external haddisks where too costly.

 

Um, no, linux live CD is the safest. It does not get any safer than that. Nothing to install, no HDD to remove nothing. You just run linux off the CD itself (like viewing a dvd), and copy over the files from you HDD to any external drive.

When you are taking out the HDD in the alternative, you ahve to be careful against electrostatic shock, to not bump the HDD etc.
With linux live cd, none of that mess. Pop the CD in, linux will run off cd, and you copy the files. QED.

Linux FTW !!

 

+1

I recommend the Ubuntu Live CD. Just put the CD in and restart your computer. Once its booted up, select "Places" and mount the HDD you want to recover data from. Then click the HDD icon on your desktop and you're in.

 

It just goes to show, backups are cheap insurance for your precious data.