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data recovery

Discussion in 'Community Broadband & Computers' started by shamm, Feb 21, 2005.

  1. shamm

    shamm New Member

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    I bought a sony vaio w/ xp a few years back and recently couldn't get past the blue screen of death on startup.

    My tech friends told me to use the recovery disks. Come to find out Sony didn't provide, I was to make my own (which most blogs indicate don't work anyway).

    I purchased the disks from sony. They tell me it can't find my d drive (c and d are the hard drive) and it wants to reformat the whole hard drive -- while erasing all my data. So, I haven't finished the recovery process.

    My stuff isn't life or death, but I hate to lose some of it. So, I was wondering if anyone can recommend a local company or person who does data recovery.

    thanks.
     
  2. Dwarflord

    Dwarflord New Member

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    Have you tried to use a Linux live CD distro? A lot of those will boot your laptop up from the cd-rom and install a linux OS in your RAM w/out altering/touching anything on your harddrive. Once it installs and is operating, you can usually access all files on your harddrive, and depending on the distro, you should be able to use a network, USB pen, Zip drive, whatever.... to backup those files.
    One Live CD I find easy to use is Simply Mepis. I hope this helps some.

    DwArFlOrD
     
  3. Pictor Guy

    Pictor Guy New Member

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    I'll sencond the Linux option. If you know someone who's good with Linux you might even try recreating your Windows Master Boot Record and see if that fixes your problems. If not then just copy the information as Dwarflord mentioned. Another bootable CD version of Linux (there is no shortage of them) is Knoppix. http://www.knoppix.com/

    __________________________________________________________
    Some software money can't buy. For everything else there's Micros~1
     
  4. teak

    teak New Member

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    Knoppix / Helix / or other data dump utility will do the job. Basically you're going to take an data dump/image of your drive. Then recreate the files based on the header info like portable executable in Windows. Some shops charge hundreds to recovery the data.

    -Teak
     
  5. christinaandrob

    christinaandrob New Member

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    My other half can help you with this, if you are interested. Email us at christinaandrob at hotmail dot com.
     
  6. shamm

    shamm New Member

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    I feel quite a bit over my head - like being my own dentist. But, I'm giving it the college try.

    well, I downloaded knoppix, created bootable cds - no emulation, harddrive emulation, fd emulation. The bottom of the page comes up with bootable cd, no emulation, and then hangs.

    Anyone know what I'm doing wrong.
    thanks
     
  7. Dwarflord

    Dwarflord New Member

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    im not familiar with the knoppix cd, but are you sure you created the image correctly on the cd?
    I use simplymepis and it boots up fine for me....

    DwArFlOrD
     
  8. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    you are you burning just the ISO, or are you tryin some other way to make a bootable cd? you should just burn the ISO and make sure your CDROM is set to boot before your hard drive and you'll be set
     
  9. shamm

    shamm New Member

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    I have no idea if I'm doing it right. here is what I have done:
    downloaded the file which shows up as KNOPPIX_V3.7-2004-12-8en.iso at over 700K, listed as file type ISO. that is the file I have burned to the cd.

    If I double click. it shows "iso buster 1.7." in the top of the blue box. ON the right hand side it shows the files: "cd" down to "session 1" - down to "track one" - down to four files - "knoppix" with a red ISO box in front, "Knoppix" with a black and yellow RR box, "bootable cd" and "knoppix" with a blue box with three yellow > in the box. EAch of these folders has additional files contained in it.

    should I be burning something else? thanks again for all the help.
     
  10. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    So you're using ISO Buster to burn the image? If that doesn't work, try Nero or Easy CD creator (if you have them) to burn an image.... you shouldnt have to do anything related to fd emulation, etc, since it's already in the ISO...
     
  11. shamm

    shamm New Member

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    I was trying using easy cd creator. But the file that was downloaded to my computer, when I double click it, pulls up and ISO buster window.

     
  12. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    yeah just load up easy cd and do file:"record cd from cd image" I think... then browse to the ISO file and burn that..
     
  13. teak

    teak New Member

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    Anyone got encase to help out this person?

    -T
     
  14. Dwarflord

    Dwarflord New Member

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    If he has nero, that should work just fine. That is what I use and I have had 0 problems burning an image.
    Just start up nero, go to file-> burn image
    then the window opens up and pick the file (the iso you downloaded) and click burn, dont click any other options in the windows before burning. Make sure you dont burn at a speed greater than your CD's are designed for. For some reason, it can make a difference, I have yet to figure out why. When I burn faster than what the CD was made for, I tend to get bad copies. For what its worth.....

    DwArFlOrD
     
  15. shamm

    shamm New Member

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    OK, I clearly don't know what I'm doing. Despite my efforts to get knoppix to work, I can't seem to get it boot properly. I used the knopix no emulation boot disk I made in a working computer and it blew right past it into windows.

    Is there anyone who has a bootable disk I could borrow? I'd be glad to pick it up. If that will work that would be great. If not, I'm on to the next step - outside help.

    thanks
     
  16. brim

    brim Member

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    Check your bios and see if you have your cdrom in the boot order.

    Are you sure the cd you created has actual files on it or just one .iso file? Look at it in explorer.
     
  17. Dwarflord

    Dwarflord New Member

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    I have one you can have. Email me (ejarmstrong@adelphia.net) and Ill get you directions/phone..... I know how frustrating this stuff can get....:D

    DwArFlOrD
     
  18. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Here's a thought:

    The Technology Committee meets at the Community Center the 2nd Tuesday of each month. From now on, I can bring some Knoppix CD's to give out to folks who want them. I would be grateful if you would let me know before hand though.

    I can also have copies of the latest Fedora Linux Distro for those who request it...

    Let me know if anyone is interested. Our next meeting is April 12th.

    Mr. Linux
    ------------------------------------------------
    Got Broadband?
    Yea, REALLY SOON now!
     
  19. neilz

    neilz New Member

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    You could drop one off at the Nature center since the HOA board is having their meeting, and I can't be two places at once :D

    But then, are we meeting the first or second Tuesdays now ... [?]

    Neil Z.
    Resident since 1999
     
  20. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

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    Neilz, in your case, I can just give the CD to Staci (she lives next door)...

    Let me know what you need and I'll hook you up...

    Mr. Linux
    ------------------------------------------------
    Got Broadband?
    Yea, REALLY SOON now!
     

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