asked on

transfering files across network from a dead laptop

i have a cleint who has brought me a dead/dieing laptop... i need to get all the contents off the hard drive...

does anyone know of any software that will boot from CD and enable me to have full access to local files and be able to copy everything across the network to a 'safe' computer ?

i've tried winternals 2005 which should do what i want but everytime it starts it tells me network options unavailable... everything works except networking...

any suggestions ?

cheers

dog

SheharyaarSaahil

You can use a Laptop IDE convertor adapter to connect a laptop hard drive to a desktop system as described here,
How To Connect a Laptop Hard Drive to a Desktop PC:
http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6255-5160538.html

Or use a USB 2.0 To IDE convertor cable to connect any hard drive via USB Ports of any laptop or desktop system,
USB 2.0 to IDE Cable
http://www.dansdata.com/usbadapt.htm

SheharyaarSaahil

or may be you can use try using UBCD
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

dog_star

ASKER

thanks for that... unfortunatly i don't have the necessary adaptor and it will take time to get one...

so for the moment i was looking for a software solution ....

dog_star

ASKER

i'd already tried hirens' boot disk but none of the alternative file managers there seemed to handle a network... is there a particulat program on the UBCD which will enable me to copy files over a LAN?

SheharyaarSaahil

I think Symantec Ghost can be used to create such a network enabled boot disk
and found this one too >> http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Boot-Manager-Disk/Universal-Network-Boot-Disk.shtml

that's all i could find....may be some other expert can give you better suggestions :)

dog_star

ASKER

i actually already used acronis true image to back up the whole laptop HD... true image gave saw the network but due to disk error (i think the HD is failing) the image it created wasn't accessable....

i really want to be able to just pull all the documents across and make sure they're safe before i start trying to repair the HD...

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Merete

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

Merete

just a thought have you removed the battery and just run on ac?

rid

Knoppix.

www.knoppix.org

Access to network and local drives. Works in most cases (unless the HD is dead).
/RID

dog_star

ASKER

thanks all for your help...

found a copy of bartPe and it works wonderfully... it really does seem to make hirens etc a bit obsolete as far as file recovery etc goes.... a fully working copy of xp on a non-working laptop...

again, thanks to all :)

Merete

yeah its pretty unreal how it does it.
thank you dog_star