PCs broke, help me get my files out and fix it!

[thejrace]

Hey guys,

So over the last month and a half my desktop and laptop have both ceased to function. Hearbreaking without a doubt, so I am pretty much relegated to using the computers at school before class and my aunts when she isn't hoggin it(which is quite unfair because it is hers,lol).

Anywho, when I turn on my laptop, it starts to load vista and the main vista screen comes up then righ before it is suposed to load up the login sceen I get a message that Windows needs to be repaired. The window has two options: 1) Let windows repair itself (recommended) or 2) start windos normally. If I run 1, then it'll "repair" only to inform me that windows cannot repair itself and to restart and try again and so forth. Option 2 results in windows consistently just restarting and getting to the same point.

My desktop on the other hand just turns on and then i get a black scren that says : Windows cannot start because the following files are corupt or missing :
<windows root>\system32\hal.dll.
Please reinstall a copy of the file


I need any suggestions I can get. Have over a 100 gigs of music on them combined. Would love to ge them and my photos off if at all possible. If it is an help I can get to the command prompt with my laptop. Thanks for the help guys.

[TOOL460002]

take your desktop hdd out and put it in another cpu. transfer the files and then you can reformat it or do whatever you want.

as for the laptop, ive never had to replace the hdd, but id imagine it uses a fairly common cable to connect to the motherboard. if you have no other options, take out the hdd and connect it to your (working) desktops motherboard. transfer and format.

i am paranoid, so i would first make sure your security is up to date before transferring anything (i like nod32). never sign in as an admin account unless you have to. this is something i learned after my last multi-computer/network crash.

im really not an expert, but hopefully this helps.

[rcarraher]

On the desktop, if you still have the install OS Cd, you can boot to it and at some point after it load drivers, it'll give you the option of repairing or installing. Choose repair, it'll ask, repair from Automated or console, choose console. It'll take you to a doc prompt and probably ask for the installation to repair, this is usually 1, then it'll probably ask for the admin password, enter it. When you get to the prompt, type chkdsk /r. This will fix your install about 80% of the times. If it doesn't, then slave it and install the HDD in another desktop type PC and transfer your files that way. You have a couple options. First, buy an external USN case for a laptop drive, make sure its the right type of laptop external case 2.5" either SATA or IDE (EIDE). Install it in the external case, plug it into a desktop USB port and transfer your files. An external case will be around $10.00 to $15.00 Another option on the desktop would be to "Expand" the hal.dll (This is the Harware Compatibility Driver included with windows. It will be on your installation OS CD, and named hal.dl_ run the expand command like this d:\expand hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32. I do this for a living, so write back if you have any questions.

[Kenbuntu]

Here's another option.

Obtain an Ubuntu Live CD via mail (they can send you one for free, but it will take 4-6 weeks to get to you) or download the ISO and burn it. Put it in your cd drive, and boot the live cd session. It will load Ubuntu into your RAM and allows you to access your CD drive, USB's and your current hard drive so you can backup using any option you choose.

OR, take out your harddrive, put it in another computer and back up that way. Depending on your skillz with computer's this may be easier and faster.

[fdeck]

Given your situation, you should own a USB backup drive anyway. If you have such a thing, it's really easy to back up the files on your existing drive by booting the Linux CD as Kenbuntu suggests. I recovered from a disaster in this way.

[Disco_Gee]

[thejrace]

thanks guys, This info seems pretty great, just have to get to it now.

gonna see if i can grab an external hd this weekend and take out my desktops hd. When i plug it into my buddys pc, can i install a new os on there, from his pc? No longer have my og cds for it, and have a spare copy of vista, figured wth.

As for my laptop, think i'll worry about ti after i have at least one working computer

Originally Posted by rcarraher

On the desktop, if you still have the install OS Cd, you can boot to it and at some point after it load drivers, it'll give you the option of repairing or installing. Choose repair, it'll ask, repair from Automated or console, choose console. It'll take you to a doc prompt and probably ask for the installation to repair, this is usually 1, then it'll probably ask for the admin password, enter it. When you get to the prompt, type chkdsk /r. This will fix your install about 80% of the times. If it doesn't, then slave it and install the HDD in another desktop type PC and transfer your files that way. You have a couple options. First, buy an external USN case for a laptop drive, make sure its the right type of laptop external case 2.5" either SATA or IDE (EIDE). Install it in the external case, plug it into a desktop USB port and transfer your files. An external case will be around $10.00 to $15.00 Another option on the desktop would be to "Expand" the hal.dll (This is the Harware Compatibility Driver included with windows. It will be on your installation OS CD, and named hal.dl_ run the expand command like this d:\expand hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32. I do this for a living, so write back if you have any questions.

Yea sadly, no is cd for the xp on my deskop. If you dont mind me asking, how would i find ot which external case to gt for the laptop hd? To further make me sound dumb, i'll assume places like bestbuy would have them right? Thanks a lot bro, you went into a lot of detail and I really appreciate it.