Computer help needed: data migration

[hopkins_student]

My computer won't boot to Windows because of a software problem, according to Dell tech support. They told me I need to have my files migrated to an external hard drive so that I can format and reinstall. It looks like it's going to cost me $100 to perform the data migration. I have: my computer (which doesn't boot to windows), my wife's computer, and an external hard drive. Given what I have, is there any way to do this on my own? I'm very grateful for any help you can offer, H_S.

 

[Thomas]

What I'd do:

Option a) install your hard drive into your wife's computer and boot her computer.
OR
Option b) get an external HD enclosure, attach to your wife's computer (lets you boot her computer and attach your drive afterwards - no interference). Option b also works in case your wife has a laptop

In either case your drive should spin up and you can pull files off with no trouble. Use the other external HD to hold them for now.

After that, I'd re-install your drive and boot from the Windows CD to see if Windows can be repaired.

 

[hopkins_student]

Any idea how much an external hard drive enclosure would cost?

 

[DNW]

Originally Posted by hopkins_student

Any idea how much an external hard drive enclosure would cost?
Cheap. Check out newegg.com or some other online retailer. A decent one shouldn't cost more than 20 bucks. There are plenty of cheap ones you can buy on fleabay for cheap too, but you get what you paid for.

 

[hopkins_student]

I have a Samsung SP2504C hard drive. Apparently the interface is SATA 3.0 Gbps. Do I buy a SATA external enclosure or are there more specifics I'll need to know to find the right kind? Thanks again, H_S.

 

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by hopkins_student

I have a Samsung SP2504C hard drive. Apparently the interface is SATA 3.0 Gbps. Do I buy a SATA external enclosure or are there more specifics I'll need to know to find the right kind? Thanks again, H_S.

I'd google the SATA specs, because I think there are different data speeds for SATA. iirc, the drive will probably take whichever SATA connection it sees, which isn't really the end of the world since the rate limiting step will probably be the USB connection.

 

[Jumbie]

There are several live CDs that allow you to boot into a temporary OS and you can then backup your data to the external drive.

There's Bart's PE and http://www.ubcd4win.com/index.htm

They require you to build them though using your original install disk. I'm sure it would be easy enough to find a functional copy on the web e.g. torrent sites.

 

[Jumbie]

Even using a Linux distro like Ubuntu or Puppy Linux may work. I know Ubuntu lets you boot from the disk to try it out without installing.

Puppy Linux can even be loaded from a USB drive although your computer would have to support booting from one.

http://lifehacker.com/software/disk-...-cd-192982.php

 

[bmulford]

Originally Posted by Jumbie

Even using a Linux distro like Ubuntu or Puppy Linux may work. I know Ubuntu lets you boot from the disk to try it out without installing. Puppy Linux can even be loaded from a USB drive although your computer would have to support booting from one. http://lifehacker.com/software/disk-...-cd-192982.php
I think someone asking this question may be slightly out of their comfort zone booting *nix - the OS CD image boot is an easy solution if the OP doesn't want to pull hardware from the box.

 

[j]

I have one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812232002 Great for any type of drive - plug drive into this thing, plug in the power, then plug this into a USB port on the working computer. (Do it in that order.) Another option might be a repair install of Windows, but if you have a SATA drive there's a good chance you'll need a driver disk for it to do the repair so it might be a little beyond what you'd want to try to do on your own. It's not that hard but in any case backing it up first would be a good idea.

 

[Jumbie]

Originally Posted by bmulford

I think someone asking this question may be slightly out of their comfort zone booting *nix - the OS CD image boot is an easy solution if the OP doesn't want to pull hardware from the box.

Yeah maybe which is why I suggested trying to download a completed copy of Bart PE rather than building it.

However using something like Puppy Linux is fairly straightforward. Download the ISO to his wife's computer, burn it onto a disk, stick it in the laptop and press F8 or F12 or whatever on boot and choose to boot off of the disk.

Not really a big deal.

 

[indy116]

Originally Posted by j

I have one of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812232002

Great for any type of drive - plug drive into this thing, plug in the power, then plug this into a USB port on the working computer. (Do it in that order.)

We use those at work. Probably the way to go for something like this.

 

[Rammstein]

Originally Posted by Thomas

What I'd do:

Option a) install your hard drive into your wife's computer and boot her computer.

agree, the easiest, cheapest and fastest way to get your data back!

 

[JustinW]

Originally Posted by hopkins_student

My computer won't boot to Windows because of a software problem, according to Dell tech support.

Well there's yer problem!

(just kidding, I hope some PC guy here can help you get it sorted).

 

[unjung]

All the advice on using a hard drive enclosure or a Linux boot CD is good.