Welcome guest. Before posting on our computer help forum, you must register. Click here it's easy and free.

Author Topic: Retrieving backup file with corrupt (non-working) OS (Windows XP)  (Read 4751 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

cherylc

    Topic Starter


    Newbie

    • Experience: Beginner
    • OS: Unknown
    I am unable to go father than the Windows Advanced Options Menu on my computer which has a corrupt Systems file.  I have tried using the Safe Mode with no luck and do not have the Windows Setup CD.  Is there any way to retrieve my backup file (located on my desktop) without purchasing a Windows Setup CD from Microsoft?

    My computer is a Dell Latitude D610 which I purchased "refurbished" about 6 months ago.

    JJ 3000



      Egghead
    • Thanked: 237
    • Experience: Familiar
    • OS: Linux variant
    Re: Retrieving backup file with corrupt (non-working) OS (Windows XP)
    « Reply #1 on: May 30, 2012, 01:55:10 PM »
    Yes. You can use a Linux live CD. http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=83
     
    Or you could use something like Hiren's boot CD, which has a mini XP mode and data recovery tools you could use to get the files. http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/

    Using one of these you should be able to get to your files and save them to a flash drive or external hard drive.

    Those are ISO files, so you will need software that can burn ISO files to a CD. If you don't have software that can burn these files to a disk, try ImgBurn to burn the disks. Get it here:
    http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download

    If you're not sure how to burn the disk there is a guide here:
    http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/G/Burning+ISO+Images+with+ImgBurn

    If you are not sure how to boot to a disk see here:
    http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000217.htm

    Once you've safely retrieved your files, you can try to fix your "corrupt Systems file." You can download the ISO of the Windows XP recovery console here:
    http://www.thecomputerparamedic.com/files/rc.iso

    In the XP recovery console you will need to select the Windows installation you wish to log onto. This is usually 1, so press 1 there. After selecting the installation you will be prompted for the administrator password, enter the password exactly as you would in Windows. If you don't have a password just leave this blank and press enter. You should get a command line prompt on your screen.

    At the prompt type

    cd\

    to get to the root of C:
    Then, at the C: prompt type

    chkdsk /r

    to check the hard disk for errors and fix them if it can.


    Save a Life!
    Adopt a homeless pet.
    http://www.petfinder.com/