RE: Windows OS .... troubles and can't access my cad files - General good advice

Be VERY careful.
If you do a new OS install on a fresh hard disk, chances are you will have
to install your applications from the original CD's in order to have a
stable system. It is generally an almost impossible task to copy all of the
appropriate files back from the old disk into their appropriate directories
(mainly on the Windows and Documents and Settings folder trees). You will
also be missing the appropriate registry entries. Again (and again), DO NOT
attempt to copy your applications back and expect things to work. Just be
happy if you can retrieve your data files.

I would also expect that, if your problem was caused by a virus or some such
thing, you might want to (as previously suggested) install a fresh copy of
anti virus software (a one year subscription to CA EZ-Trust, a pretty good
one is available for free at: http://www.my-etrust.com/microsoft/ ), update
and schedule a scan each night.
Also download Microsoft's anti-spyware (beta), update and run it (leave this
to scan each night). Also download Spybot Search & Destroy from:
http://www.safer-networking.org/ , update, immunize and run it weekly.

UPDATEE WINDOWS from the Microsoft site. Set your Internet Explorer to the
desired security level (medium should be OK).A personal firewall is a good
idea: Zone Alarm has a free version.

After doing all of the above, you can install your applications, copy back
your data, and you should be set to go.

Jeff



To the original poster...

You should probably GHOST (http://ghost.com/) the corrupt hard drive before
attempting any type of recovery procedure, just in case. This is a CYA
approach.

If you do ghost the drive, you can at least perform a clean install (even
using the HP cd if you want) then restore your data from the ghost image
file
you created.

If you do decide to perform a clean install, get a utility to surface scan
the hard drive (usually from the hdd mfg website for free). It'll report any
errors and let you know if the drive is going bad.

I would install an anti-virus program just before restoring your data, just
in case one of your files was the culprit.

Be aware that Linux is NOT 100% reliable at writing to NTFS partitions
(reading is fine) without causing further havoc. But when it does, it's oh
so
sweet.


$0.02
Jim...

> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2006 05:38:21 -0000
> From: "kz1927" <kz1927@...>
> Subject: Re: Windows OS .... troubles and can't access my cad files -
> BACKUP yours.
>
> Swapping the drives will do no good. What he meant was to add
> the corrupted drive as a secondary drive in another machine.
> Presumably a desktop machine.
>
> What you can do is buy on of those kits that converts an
> internal drive to a USB drive...hook it up to your laptop that
> works and it'll be recognized as an extra drive that you can access
> and copy your files from and save them.
>
> That's assuming you consider that you're going to have to reinstall
> the O.S. on the bad drive.
>
> If you keep trying you'll eventually be able to repair it but it can
> be less trouble to just get your stuff off it and do a reinstall.
>
> If you want to go the linux route you could download
>
> http://slax.linux-live.org/download.php
>
> you'll need to burn a cd which will boot from the CD drive.
> It will allow access to your files and you could copy them off to a
> USB Jumpdrive.
>
> John
>
>
>
>
> --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Darren Lucke
> <oneluckeboy@y...> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Will this work w/ laptops (both are HP omnibooks)?
> > I've upgraded before from 20 to 40 gb so I'm not
> > concerned w/ swapping but thoguht OS was on hd thus
> > the same prob w/ boot up, no??
> >
> > The other linux type program may be what I try
> > tomorrow... this has me more beat trying to understand
> > it than learning CNC... haha..
> >
> > Darren
> > --- Ken Strauss <ken.strauss@s...> wrote:
> >
> > > I haven't followed all of the messages but...
> > >
> > > Why not just remove your disk drive and attach it to
> > > the other computer and
> > > copy the needed files (assuming that both are
> > > running W2K or XP)? If the
> > > file structure is not damaged this will work
> > > perfectly and you'll still have
> > > the disk to attempt recovery without fear that
> > > you'll lose data.