Recover files from crashed laptop

Hi,

Please bear with me, I am easily confused :-o.

My acer aspire 5720 wont boot, so I need to recover some important files, (I know........I should have backed it up........)

Well, I have an external usb casing for an IDE 3.5 drive and have worked out I need an adapter. The problem is the 2.5 seagate drive doesn't have much info on it (well nothing that makes any sense to me anyway), I am assuming it is SATA although it doesn't say so and I cant see any jumpers on it to make it a slave. I've googled but it's all too technical and I'm close to jumping up and down on it.

Please help!

Thanks in advance
Laura

 

Hi Laura,
When you say "crashed laptop" do you mean that it will not boot up at all???
if it does boot but goes no further than the splash screen/boot menu then it could be that it is only a corrupt file/driver causing the issue, if this is the case then you could boot a live linux OS to retrieve the important files that you need.Then try to fix the corrupted files on the drive with help from here.
But if the machine is dead then you will need to get a 2.5" hdd external caddy for your drive the 3.5" one you have is no good for your drive even with an adapter, I just recently bought a 2.5" caddy for an old drive of mine for £3.50 off ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230621355...55806&_sacat=See-All-Categories&_fvi=1&_rdc=1 this is what you need it is "hot swappable" and "plug n play" you just need to go to Computer and select the drive and copy the files you need, very easy even for a Novice user!!, you could then format that drive and use it as a clone of the new drive you are using.

iain.t :major

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812123312
Plug the laptop hd into this and then use two USB ports on the other computer. (After a working computer is booted up). You should be able to find the hd in Disk Management. You can then grab the files you need and put them on the desktop of the working computer or on a USB stick.

 

Hi,

Thanks for your replies.

I get the splash screen, and then the 'windows failed to start, a recent hardware or software might be the cause' black screen with choices of safe mode etc (none of which work) and then another black screen saying to insert installation disc and so on (which I am in the process of ordering from acer) and 'windows failed to load because the systems registry file is missing or corrupt.' F10 + alt to boot from the hidden partition doesn't work either. The laptop is second hand so possibly it has been deleted?

Oh dear..................:confused

 

Hi,
Do you have the 'Acer eManager' (3rd button left of power on/off) as this can launch 'eRecovery' also (though you will lose all your data/files as this rolls it back to factory settings).
What OS is installed ?? could you get a lend of a copy of your OS install disc, it would have to be the same version i.e... basic/home/pro etc.. as you could do a windows repair with the disc which should not effect any of your personal files/data.
Have you tried booting it in safe mode ?? continuesly press f8 after powering up, hopefully you should see the screen where all of the systems drivers are loading, if it gets no further, take note of the last driver it tries to load and fails on as that will be where your issue lies.

iain.t :major

 

Edited

 

Hi,

I have the eRecovery button but tried to use it when I first got the laptop and it didn't work (I tried it when there was nothing but the OS on it because I was worried I didn't have recovery discs.) Is it possible the original owner formatted and the eManager was lost? The OS is Vista Home Premium but I don't know anyone with the disc.

Also I really need some of the files before I re-install. I backed it up a month ago but have some important research on there I did since and stupidly didn't copy it anywhere :-o

 

Forgot to say. I tried safe mode and it went back to the missing or corrupt registry file screen.

 

As Iain mentioned, putting a Linux OS on CD would still be your best bet for recovering your files to an external HD or USB flash stick. You aren't installing Linux just running it off the media to get your files. If you need instructions we can give some.

If you have System Restore points set there is a Vista Recovery Disc that can be downloaded that might give you access to System Restore. For that you need to know if you were running 32 or 64bit Vista. We might be able to figure that out from make and model number of laptop.

 

Hi Sach2, yes instructions for how to recover stuff with Linux OS would be great thanks!

I am pretty sure it's 32bit, It's an aspire 5720, ICL50.

I'm a bit done in now so I'm off with Zelda for a bit to relax before bedtime................

 

For a Linux distro I think Puppy (139mb) should do fine.

For the Vista disc I didn't see any reference to 64bit for that laptop so I guess go ahead and try the 32bit version here Unzip to get the ISO file.

You need a burning software such as imgburn to write the ISO file to a blank CD/DVD. In imgburn>Choose "Write Image File to Disc" option>Browse to your ISO and select it. Click the large icon at the bottom of the window to begin burn process. Guide: http://www.calibancomputer.com/computer-tutorials.htm#burning

For retrieving your files. Burn Puppy to CD. Boot the laptop from the CD. You will have a desktop with icons in the lower left hand corner for sda1, sda2 etc. which represent your HD partitions. It looks like your laptop has a recovery partition as sda1 so your Windows partition will be sda2. You can click that icon to open a file browser window and find your research. (Easiest thing to do is insert a USB flash which will show up as sdb1 and copy files to it--just click that icon to open another file window and drag files from one window to the other and select copy.)

The Vista disc has an option to try System Restore. If you have any restore points available it may be able to take you back to before the registry problem.



Let me know if you have any problems.

***
It is possible to put the Puppy Linux on a USB flash if your laptop will boot to USB and then copy files to the same flash. CD is probably easiest--I'm just letting you know if blank CDs are a problem.

 

Here's a tutorial for using Puppy Linux to recover your files:
http://help.artaro.eu/index.php/win...vista/recover-files-from-hard-disk-vista.html

 

ok great, thanks for that. I'll give it a go.

 

Right, hit a problem already.

How do I burn puppy to a cd, 'windows cannot open this file..............needs to know the program that created it.'

Am using my old XP pc................

 

ignore last post..............

 

Hi, I have installed Puppy but can't see my files on there, Does that mean I've lost them? :cry

 

S'alright, panic over.

 

Hi,

Just remember to use Copy as Puppy gives you full control over the Windows partition and you don't want to accidentally delete anything.

 

Righto, thanks.

 

If the Vista disc doesn't restore the OS will I still be able to do a fresh install if I get the OEM recovery discs off Acer, or can I do it with the Vista disc I am burning myself?

Ta

 

The Vista disc is a stripped down version of an install disc. It doesn't have any of the installation files. It just has enough to boot and get into the Recovery Environment. It is sort of like the XP recovery console but with a few more options like the possibility of System Restore. (I keep saying possibility because it depends if it sees any existing restore points.)

You will still need the Acer disc for a full reinstall. (I did notice in one of your scans from last year that your recovery partition still exists(about 9gb). It probably shows in Puppy as sda1. If you see files in that partition then there is a possibility of troubleshooting trying to get that recovery process started.

The Vista disc you are burning (after unzipping it to get the ISO file which is what you burn) will search for a Vista installation and offer to automatically repair. You can say OK to that automatic repair but it will probably do no good since you have a registry problem. You might need to restart without the disc to see if it did any good. Then start from the disc again skip the automatic repair and go the list of 5 options and try System Restore. See if it offers any choices of dates before the problem occurred.

 

Ok, ta.

I should probably wait before posting a cheque to Acer for 50 quid then.

 

Hi, just in case you are waiting for me I think you should try the Vista recovery disc before anything else.

I only see one option on the Acer eRecovery and that is setting that partition to active to see if that will start recovery. The Vista disc will work for setting the partition as active as well.

 

Sorry, bit confused now. Do you mean try the disc I am burning myself first?

 

There are files in the recovery partition by the way.

 

Yes, I would burn that disc and attempt System Restore as it would be the simplest solution. System Restore tries to retrieve an older copy of the registry to replace the corrupted file. All your personal files would remain intact.

If that doesn't work then we can try setting the recovery partition active although I'm am skeptical that will work but may be worth a try.

 

Right, I have booted from the recovery disc and all I have is the blue and green Vista splash screen with nothing else on it.:confused

 

Hi
Is your machine set to boot from CD ???

Go into your Bios/Setup, or Boot Menu, at startup, and change the Boot Order to make the DVD/CD drive 1st in the Boot Order, then reboot with the disk in the Drive.
At startup/power on you should see at the bottom of the screen either F2 or DELETE, to go into Bios/Setup, or F12 for the Boot Menu.

 

I didn't think it was but I think it it is booting from the cd because I get a 'press any key to boot from CD/DVD' prompt and it says it is loading the windows files, the I get the vista blue and green searchlight splash screen but no menu. I tried burning the disc again only slower, and still no joy. I'll try again..............

the dvd drive doesn't seem to be there, only USB CDROM?????????????

 

ok, usb cdrom 1st in boot order seems to have made a difference.........

 

No it hasn't, losing the will to live now..................bit melodramatic I know but I am having a bad day.

I managed to get the menu up, but system restore wouldn't work because I hadn't specified a drive (or something). There was only a shut down button after that (no back button) so no choice but to reboot (again rolleyes) and then no menu (again rolleyes).

I got my files though! Thanks guys. Is it time to give up and get the recovery disks or do you have any other ideas?

Thanks again for all your help.

 

I'm going to think about other options. I'm beginning to think that the Vista disc from that site is not quite right. There is another thread where the poster is having problems with that disc. The original site had to stop hosting it while it reviewed copyright status.3

 

The disk file system has been corrupted and needs to be repaired.

If you do not have access to a Vista or Windows 7 installation disk from which to run chkdsk /r from the Command Prompt, then perhaps the following will be sufficient to get your system operational again ...

Please try the following:

Download NTBR_CD.exe and create a bootable CD.

• Save the file to your Desktop and double-click it. This will create a folder named NTBR_CD.
• Open the folder and locate BurnItCD. Launch it by double-clicking it.
• When BurnCDCC opens, click Start - the CD tray will open.
• Insert blank CD and click OK.
• The tray will close, burn the image then eject the disk.

Run chkdsk.

• Boot the affected computer with the new CD.
• Once presented with the boot screen please hit <ENTER> to boot from CD.
• After a warning screen there is a keyboard language options screen - press <ENTER> to leave it at EN-US.
  You should now be at the Tool options screen.
• Type 5 and press <ENTER> to go to a command prompt.
  At the command prompt type the following bolded command then press <ENTER>
  
  tools\ntfs4dos\chkdsk
  
  You will be prompted (in German) to press Enter.
• Press <ENTER> to start the check disk utility.
  Check Disk will check all attached drives and attempt to correct any errors.
  Please make a note of any errors found or corrections made.
• When it completes type "menu" and press <ENTER> to return to the tools menu.
• Type 6 and press <ENTER> to quit, then Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart.

(With thanks to noahdfear for the above tool and instructions.)

Please let me know if chkdsk reports any errors or corrections made, or if it completes without incident.

Allow the computer to attempt booting normally and let me know the outcome.

 

Hi AustrAlien,

Thanks for your help. When I double click start in BurnCDCC get a box with a red cross saying 'Unable to find file'. I downloaded NTBR_CD using Chrome and then with FF straight on to my desktop but same problem..................


Edit.......... sorted it, didn't have anything in file image box.

 

ignore last post

 

ok, it says, amongst lots of other stuff, Error code 0004 and CauseWay error 09, Unrecoverable exception. Do you want me to post the other stuff? There are lots of 'missing exports' whatever they are...........

 

Tried it, still wont boot. Just before I ran chkdsk it gave me a choice of drives to check, 'C' Or 'D', I assumed it was 'c' I wanted to check?

I took a (slightly dodgy) photo of the report, would it help to attach it?

 

Hi again, I'm about ready to give up now, I just want my laptop up and running again. I really appreciate the help you guys have given me, especially as I have recovered my files.

Would someone give me a last piece of advice please. If I do a clean install from the Acer recovery discs (I haven't bought yet) will it definitely fix the laptop or is it a hardware problem? And could I instead buy a full version of Vista and install that rather than the OEM version?

Thanks again

Laura

 

If it is a problem with the OS, reinstalling it will eliminate the issue. If your HD is bad, you will need to reinstall the OS on the replacement HD anyway.

By full, do you mean a retail license? If so, the only difference between the two would be licensing. If you are going to purchase an OS and retail license, I recommend upgrading to Windows 7. Otherwise, the restore discs would be the least expensive option.

 

Hi,

Wouldn't a retail license Vista be cheaper than windows 7 though? I've seen a few on ebay for around £30 to £60, The Acer recovery discs are £50 and wouldn't I only ever be able to use it on that machine? Would The Acer disc work on a replacement hard drive? :confused

 

Where are you seeing the 50 (pound?) price? Did you put your serial number in over at Acer to check the price? That seems much too high. Most companies charge about 20USD.

 

I know! Yes £50 (british pounds). I rang them last year (on a premium rate number, I might add, so would it have been another £5 had I not Skyped it) gave them my product code, serial number etc. and then they gave me a case number and a form to fill in, with instructions to put a cheque in the post, or to pay by card. Extortion.

So you can see why I am considering buying a retail one?

 

From a quick glance around the web we could try to set your recovery partitio to active and see if it will set back to factory defaults.

The main warning would be if the process doesn't complete your current installation would be totally gone and you would have to use either a Vista CD or the Acer CD to reinstall the OS.

****
Just to verify the price try typing in your S/N on this page (scroll down) and see what is says about price for the DVDs. https://secure.tx.acer.com/RCDB/Main.aspx?brand=Acer

 

Doesn't recognise my serial number, I had this problem when I first looked at buying the discs last year, I had to email them through their EU support site about it. It's definitely £50 in the UK. Unbelievable as it is! They justified it by saying they had to make the specific discs for my machine. Like that costs them £50?

Anyway, be great to try the recovery partition.

Thanks.

 

Let me take a quick look at Puppy. It doesn't come with TestDisk but I think it comes with Gparted. I have to refresh on those commands.

 

@ sach2

Do you think it might be a good idea to check out the hard drive for problems ... before going to all the trouble of attempting a recovery, only then finding out that the HDD is no good anyway?

 

It's desperate times .... and you have nothing to lose ..... so how about trying the chkdsk with ntfs4dos one more time ... before giving up on it? Sometimes chkdsk needs to be run several times to repair a badly corrupted file system.

 

Hi,

I ran it twice, is it worth doing it again?

 

It's your call ... but you are desperate at this stage.

I am not optimistic about success!

 

Yes pretty desperate!

Ok, ran it againtwice. No difference.

Why is it asking me (in German) which drive to scan? 'C' (625 kb) or 'D' (628kb) both with different dates?