Data Recovery from disc using a bootdisk?: Where to recover the files too?

Draeger · 18 Nov 2007 at 15:04

Got a hard drive that a friend needs data recovered from.

I'm using a free and commonly available "BootCD" that boots into a PE - Pre-Environment and gives you a GUI to work within.

Now, I've found the documents I want to recover, and have selected them all to do so.

The next stage asks you where the destination drive for the files to be recovered to is.

It gives me a choice of "A:" , "C:" and "R:".

"A:" I have no idea what drive this is.

"C:" Upon looking into the drive itself, this appears to be the BootCD itself.

"R:" I'm assuming is some sort of "Ramdrive".

The problem being is that under a Pre Environment setup, like DOS, USB and Firewire connections are not supported.

So, how are you supposed to recover the required files and to what destination/media?. What am I meant to connect up to the PC to remove the files?.

This is really frustrating as we can see the files needed right in front of us but can not work out how to get them off the faulty hard drive to somewhere else!!!.

oddjob62 · 18 Nov 2007 at 15:08

Can't you connect to a network share? I'm sure BartPE or a linux live disk would allow you to do so.

bledd · 18 Nov 2007 at 15:17

chuck in another hard drive

hp7909 · 18 Nov 2007 at 15:21

Can't connect it up into the rig you posting from?

Draeger · 18 Nov 2007 at 15:26

Cant actually remove the hard drive from the laptop concerned as its under warranty still and I believe the warranty may be invalidated if I did so.

Otherwise I would have just pulled it from the laptop, shoved it in a caddy and tried from there.

Hence the reason I'm trying within the PE to recover the files off the disk.

hp7909 · 18 Nov 2007 at 15:53

Draeger said:
Got a hard drive that a friend needs data recovered from

Then that statement's a bit 'misleading'

& normally the hard disk on a (Windows) laptop is under a small flap for quick removal/upgrade. Never actually seen one in a place that will invalidate your warranty. Think they also fall under same rules as upgrading RAM.

Draeger · 18 Nov 2007 at 16:06

Yeah, my apologies, should have said a "laptop" rather than a drive, sorry bout that.

So you reckon removing the hard drive would not invalidate a warranty ( HP laptop )?.

Only thing is, when I removed the plastic flap and looked inside, there is a small rectangular silver "sticker" that looks as if it could be broken/ripped on the hard drive if it was removed, although I have to say, it could probably be carefully peeled back enough to facilitate removal.

I just wasnt sure whether to risk it or not. :confused:

What are these "rules" you mention regarding upgrades?.

marc2003 · 18 Nov 2007 at 16:06

i've got a really old bart pe disk which works fine with my external usb drive. the usb drive has to be on as cd is booting. it won't detect it later like windows normally would.

Draeger · 18 Nov 2007 at 16:17

marc2003 said:
i've got a really old bart pe disk which works fine with my external usb drive. the usb drive has to be on as cd is booting. it won't detect it later like windows normally would.

Interesting, that did not even dawn on me to try.

I'll give that a go.

hp7909 · 19 Nov 2007 at 03:02

Draeger said:
What are these "rules" you mention regarding upgrades?.

I.e. buying & installing it yourself (hence upgrading) can not invalidate your warranty. That's in regards to RAM, but I'm pretty sure hard disk falls under the same.

You have an external caddy, right? If the laptop is fairly modern & has USB, you can use a program like Acronis True Image (here) to back-up the contents onto the external caddy.