Recovering files from non-bootable XP?

You should be able to install a second copy of XP in a new directory alongside the original, I have before on my media server and it worked ok.

I honestly can't remember what happened to the documents and settings folder though, but if you run out of options...

Simply select a different directory on installing (winxp or something)
 
On my spare laptop I just did a new installation of XP into C:\WINXP (instead of C:\WINDOWS) and the old "Documents and Settings" folders were preserved. Yes!! I have a solution :banana:

Now I can de-stress and sort out the laptop that matters tomorrow.

Michael.
 
Work from a Linux live disk?

A chance that might be worth taking is to download and make a bootable ISO disk form one of the rescue distros from the frozentech collection of Linux stuff and use it a the boot disk and see if you can then get hold of the bits of the WIndows file system you require.

I have never needed to do this myself but other have given it a go and it works.

Pros.
Not too hard to do if you have access to a broadband link.
Costs next to nothing.
Does not destroy or alter the existing system.

Cons.
Might not work.

PS should type faster as you seemed to have cracked it already :)
 
I just had almost identical problem. my PC would not get past the account login - insufficient resource to proceed. in the end I installed a second copy of XP alongside. I've been able to get back all the data from shared and unpassworded accounts, but the My Documents in my 'own' account is still unaccessible (can't even copy it to a backup) - presumably because of the password, which was set up under the other copy of windows. Any ideas about utilities that could access it direct?
 
Documents rescued - yes! Installed a new copy of XP alongside the old one (used WINXP folder instead of WINDOWS) and once logged on there could access all the old "Documents and Settings" folders. I copied what I needed to my PC and burned it to DVD.

Now all that remains is installing XP from scratch (format and wipe the HDD) and everything's sorted :)

midelifecrisis - logged on as an Administrator on the new XP install you should be able to access all the old "My Documents" folders unless you were using encryption on them on the previous install in which case you'll never get them back.

I wasn't able to access the old folder across the net but I just copied everything to a new folder on the laptop first and then it was fine.

Michael.
 
Isaac Sibson said:
After the fact I know, but it does show the value of keeping your personal documents on a separate partition (or ideally a physically separate drive). If (when) this sort of thing happens you can reformat and reinstall windows in 2-3 hours (inc all apps) without impacting your documents.
Click to expand...
Good comment, I used to do this but the convenience of using Windows' My Documents/Pictures/etc. stored in the user folders on the system partition means I now just use a single partition on PC's. I'd prefer it if Windows would allow you to specify where you want these folders to be stored - does anyone know if you can change the default location?

Just as an aside, I find using Groove to be excellent for keeping all my docs/data/pics, etc. synch'd across two (or more PC's) without having to think about it. It also synch's Browser Favourites which is almost worth the license fee alone. It means if one PC fails there is no pressure to get it up and running again. I just switch over to another until I have time to sort the failed one out.
 
greg said:
Good comment, I used to do this but the convenience of using Windows' My Documents/Pictures/etc.... I'd prefer it if Windows would allow you to specify where you want these folders to be stored - does anyone know if you can change the default location?
Click to expand...

See:

here

and, if you want to relocate the entire "Documents and Settings" folder (not recommended):

here

:)

Michael.
 
Just got another XP pc that on bootup was getting a dialog box with "System Error: LSASS.EXE - object not found". Clicking OK just rebooted the system back to the same point each time. Seems it's not an uncommon problem but there is no obvious solution.

I could get into recovery console and I replaced LSASS.EXE in case it had got corrupted. I also tried a full NT "repair install". Neither solved the problem.

However, knowing what I do from the earlier experience above I just re-installed NT using the "leave filesystem intact" option, this time installing into the same directory (C:\WINDOWS) and it was all fine - all the users documents were preserved. Much quicker turnaround.

The only issue with that kind of install is that you're left with a lot of junk from the previous install on the HDD.

Michael.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top