How to recover data from unbootable pc

Please advise of methods/software (preferrably free) that can assist me to get access to unbootable pc to copy some files from HDD to slave HDD prior to windows repair installation.....or set a restore point......
will I lose outlook.pst?

 

Do you have another computer you could slave your unbootable HDD in? That would likely be the easiest way...

 

Not as such, but I could remove and bring in to our IT guys at my place of work. I was thinking of putting in an old 20GB HDD to temp. install XP onto and remove data that way.
Can I boot and install from a HDD in a USB carriage (if that is the correct terminology)? I was thinking of buying a cheap one on ebay for this purpose for future.

 

Yes, if the BIOS of your computer supports booting from USB

 

When you are able to access your data, it might be worth considering backing up your Outlook *.pst file.

Check out:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/195719

Hope it helps. Bazza

 

Yes, I will back-up .pst, or move it to other HDD.
Not the topic here, but am still searching for a simple back-up program, to do such with a list of critical files that you don't want lost during this type of crash.

 

A windows repair installation leaves the data intact.

Only a clean instal (with format) destroys it.

 

Thanks studiot, have tried windows repair with CD, but it gets to a point and ceases, HDD seems to stop (no sound & LED off)!!

 

As a last resort, maybe try System File Checker.
Start-->Run
Type in sfc /scannow <enter> and have the genuine MS OS CD handy. Bazza

 

Use a Barts PE CD or the UBCD4Win (Ultimate Boot CD for Windows). It's a bootable "live" OS. It's like running Windows from the CD and the UBCD has all sorts of utils included: burning software, web browsers, file management, you name it. I've used the UBCD numerous times to save data to a USB thumb drive or an external drive. If the PC has 2 CD drives, and one is a burner, you burn your data to CD's. You will need an XP install CD and a healthy PC to build the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows... here's the download link:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download5710.html
And here's a link to the instructions and details for building the CD:
http://www.ubcd4win.com/howto.htm
Be sure to read the info all the way through (probably twice) to be familiar with what you'll be doing. You could also try booting to a Knoppix CD or another "live" Linux distro. I think there's several different live Linux CD's available. Good luck.

 

Thanks all....couldn't wait to do all this....I took my HDD to IT techies at work and they connected it remotely to a pc, and noted that it wasn't spinning correctly, and that this was the reason why my pc would not boot using it....and is likely unrepairable.
Luckily though I was able to access the few bits of data req'd from it.
I now have my XP OS on older 20GB HDD, with PC setup nearly as b4.
I aim to see if I can fix this 80GB HDD, any ideas....will be connected via USB caddy.

 

I have got a HDD caddy c/w power, and have connected it to PC via USB, no software was suplied. It is detected and the top level folder structure is visible.
BUT i am unable to view most other files, even though view system files option is checked.
Note: these files were all visible at work using IT techies USB 2.0 to SATA IDE cable c/w power adaptor!