What are my options?

My PC will not boot up but I need some files on the hard disks. How can I retrieve this information? Is the only way plugging them into another computer or is there another way?

Thanks.

Plug the harddrive into another computer as a secondary drive (boot up from the one you know that works), and then once in windows, go onto the second drive (I think it would be like d:/ or something, never done it before), take off the files, then reformat.

Originally Posted by Andrew R Plug the harddrive into another computer as a secondary drive (boot up from the one you know that works), and then once in windows, go onto the second drive (I think it would be like d:/ or something, never done it before), take off the files, then reformat.

Wouldn't I need to install it properly? Surely I can't just plug it in and hey presto..?

You'll just need to plug it in. You may need to adjust the jumpers on your existing hard drive and this one. But yes, Windows should instantly recognize it. Think of it as a thumbdrive, just with jumpers.

Download a version of linux to a fash drive (damn small linux for example) and get those filed from the hard drive to a disc

Problem is I am on one of those all-built-in PCs and accessing the hard disk slot may be a problem...it may not even have a sparre one.

Here is the PC: http://h71036.www7.hp.com/hho/cache/...0-225-121.html

Do you think if I open it up I can find it?

Originally Posted by Seb Problem is I am on one of those all-built-in PCs and accessing the hard disk slot may be a problem...it may not even have a sparre one. Here is the PC: http://h71036.www7.hp.com/hho/cache/...0-225-121.html Do you think if I open it up I can find it?

yes, its a normal hard drive.

Originally Posted by Village Idiot yes, its a normal hard drive.

Ok going to take a look. Wish me luck

Will let you know how it went

Edit: Before I do, that is the computer I am moving it to...not from. The hard disks in my old computer are SATA. Will I have a problem?

ROFL! Wow! After a week of trying, when I finally give up, I went to get the hard disks out my computer and it booted up!! Can't believe it.

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