How could I backup data from my laptop?

Is there any easy way to take all the data out my laptop if it doesn't want to start up anymore? I keeps restarting over and over and there's a bunch of people that are saying they could fix the problem easlily and will only charge me like $100.00 But I'm thinking I could fix it myself. I started the laptop and connected a USB cable from the latop into my desktop and I don't see anything happen. I figured I could see the drive from my desktop is this possible? I don't want to remove the hard drive, because I would have to open up the whole bottom part and I rather not do that...

thanks,

 

Most laptops have easily accessible hard drives, and it usually just a matter of removing 1 or 2 or 3 screws to access the hard drive, but I don't think this is necessary. If you want to hook up the laptop to your desktop with a USB cable, you can't just use a regular USB cable. Special cables have been made for this purpose and they're usually called "lap-link" cables. More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LapLink_cable
http://www.laplink.com/cables/
http://compusb.stores.yahoo.net/usbdatbridca.html
There appears to be an application called PCMover that is sold with a laplink cable; more info: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832300010&Tpk=laplink cable But I think it requires that both PCs be fully functional.
You can also boot to a 'live' CD on the laptop, and then copy the data from the hard drive to an external USB drive or flash drive. Using the UBCD4Win, you can boot in to a familiar Windows-like environment that runs exclusively from the CD and provides unrestricted access to your hard drive. If you have an external or flash drive connected before booting to the UBCD4Win, you can copy any data you want from the laptop hard drive to the external or flash drive. But, if the laptop has a hardware problem that is causing it to restart continually, then a 'live' boot CD won't help much, and removing the hard drive and using it in an enclosure or with an adapter so it can be connected via USB to a deskopt PC may be the only way to save the data. If you could provide more info about the laptop (make, model, Windows version, etc) we can probably provide some more accurate information.

[dlb]

(click this link for instructions on creating the UBCD4Win; you need a functioning PC capable of burning CDs, a Windows install disc, and a blank CD or two; read the instructions all the through 2 or 3 times before starting; print the instrcutions if possible)

 

Thanks for the quick response. I was waiting for your response on the other posting I put, but it's about the same issue, so it's cool. I've taken hard drives out of other laptops, but this 1 is different. I have to remove the whole bottom panel and I don't want to do that, because i don't want anything to fall out of place. Here is the model #

Sony VAIO model # PCG-4E1L

This is the error message I'm getting right before it restarts...

P.S. I also saw this article I don't know if I should try this let me know...

http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189400897&pgno=1&queryText=&isPrev=

THANKS!

 

I read and post A LOT here at Major Geeks, so you'll have to provide a link to the post you're referrring to... I have no idea which one it is rolleyes I apologize if you were waiting on a response :-o

:confused Uhhhhhh..... what error message?

Absolutely!!! Try it!! The article explains how to perform a safe re-install of Windows XP without any data loss. If it works perfectly, then your laptop will be up and running just as it was. If it 'kind of' works, then you'll have a desktop, but none of your icons and shortcuts will be there; sometimes with repair installs (if the registry hives are corrupt) all the installed programs get 'disconnected' from Windows. The programs and data are still there, but the programs will not open unless they're re-installed. And if it doesn't work, then you'll be where you are now, with a PC that doesn't load to Windows, so give it a shot....

 

Well I was reading some of the comments at the bottom about the article and some people where saying not do try that it doesn't really work. Or it may only sometimes work and some people seemed to have lost all their data which is what I need to avoid, so I don't even want to try that... I'm downloading that software you told me about UBCD4Win and see if that works. Any other suggestions? did you see a pic of the laptop do you see how you have to remove the screws to take the bottom panel off. I'm scared of I do this other parts will come out and I won't be able to put them back in...

thanks,

Here's the error message also...

http://http://www.nocurerecords.com/sony_error.jpg

 

I burned that software to a CD and made it bootable and the system started from the CD, but this screen came up... what am I suppose to do?

http://http://www.nocurerecords.com/ubcd.jpg

 

Ahhhh... ye olde "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" error 0x000000ED.

This is actually VERY EASY to fix most of the time.

1: Boot to your Windows XP install disc; press any key when you see "Press any key to boot from CD...."
2: Once it loads to the first screen where you are given the option of pressing "R" for the Recovery Console, or press Enter to install Windows, press "R" for the Recovery Console.
3: The PC will go a black screen with white letters and looks like an old-school DOS environment. You may promped for the Administrator password; if you have a password, enter it, otherwise press Enter.
4: Once you get to a prompt, type the command chkdsk c: /r and press Enter.
5: When chkdsk has completed, type exit and press Enter to restart the PC; be sure to remove the XP disc from the drive.
That's it!!!

Running chkdsk can take some time. Like a LOOOONG time. I've seen it take over 8 hours. Be patient. Do not turn off the PC during a chkdsk. Do not cancel the chkdsk. You may think the PC has locked up during chkdsk, it hasn't. You may see the percentage progress counter actually count backwards. This is normal so don't worry about it. Let chkdsk run in it's entirety.

GOOD LUCK!!! Let us know how it goes!!

(BTW- your link to the error message has an extra "http" in it! LOL )

(the chkdsk command above has a space before and after the "c:" and will not work if the spaces are left out)

 

You didn't create or burn the CD correctly. Did you follow the instructions at the link I posted above? Here it is again:
How-To Create and Burn The UBCD4Win

 

i'm running the chkdsk c: /r

now let's all hope that it works..

:confused

 

It seems to have worked!!! I'll let you know if I recovered everything tomorrow...

thanks,

 

:celebrate Glad I could help! :highfive

There are different "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" errors and some can be fixed with chkdsk, and some can't. Thankfully 0x000000ED is one 'version' of the error that is easily repaired with chkdsk.

[dlb]