How to backup files out of Windows?
My laptop is running Windows XP. It is infected with a virus that keeps rebooting the computer as soon as I log in. I am trying to remove the virus. In case I dont succeed, is there a way where I can access my document files, sound and pictures so I can back them up to an USB HD? That is with a program or repair disc that lets me go into a DOS shell or something like this and backup the above into a USB without going into Windows XP proper?
Boot with a Linux live CD, connect the external hard drive, and copy things over to the external hard drive using the file manager inside the Linux live CD.
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If you have a desktop, with fully updated antivirus, just slave the drive in that computer and copy you data off to a folder on that system. You might need an adapter unless both the laptop HDD and the desktop use SATA drives. In the past, I have not only backed up data this way, but ran Malware Bytes and antivirus against the drive while it is slaved and cleaned it up. I run both again once I put it back in the system to verify.
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Must the above programs be burned to a CD or can they be burned on a DVD as well?
knoppix : yes, see first words on homepage
CD or DVD does not matter; but it would mean wasting a lot of space on a blank DVD.
For bootables, you should avoid to use rewritable media.
You could also install Parted Magic (and many other Linux live systems) by using Unetbootin: http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
This free tool will even download for you.
For bootables, you should avoid to use rewritable media.
You could also install Parted Magic (and many other Linux live systems) by using Unetbootin: http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
This free tool will even download for you.
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