SSD in Dell Win 7 laptop failing, won't boot, request help w/ USB boot

RichK35 · 11 Oct 2018

Hello,

New to this forum, sorry if I'm making a mistake in folder to post, or whatever. In a massive bind. I have a Dell Ultrabook that won;t boot, stuck when I boot in safe mode after system32\drivers\aswbidsha.sys. Searched the net and found that it's most likely dying. Dell chat dispatched a new one, so I have to install it but I really need to get files off the old one. Due to wife's continued illness, I have not backed it up in a few months.

Is there a way I can get the laptop booted from a USB just to see if I can save the files and folders on the desktop? I never had a laptop without an optical drive, so I'm not sure if this can be done. Dell wants old SSD HD back, so I'm on a time constraint.

Thank you for any advice. Files are not super critical, like I'd be willing to spend $1k to get them back, but would like to save some website designs, business card files, family vacation pix. I did try running the repair utility, just sits with black screen and cursor for hours and hours.

Regards,

Rich K

RichK35 · 11 Oct 2018

PS - I have a desktop with Win7 Ultimate, but no other computer with Win 7 Pro. So I'm not sure if I could make a boot USB file from that desktop...Or should I just take the drive to a place that does file recovery? Don't mind paying a couple hundred dollars if it would be quicker, but I can;t go over $250...

SIW2 · 11 Oct 2018

Rich,

You can use my boot media.

17514x86.iso
17514x64-v9.iso

Download the iso file

Extract it to usb

boot it up

Hopefully you will be able to copy the data off the failing SSD onto the usb.

SIW2 · 11 Oct 2018

Use this to extract iso to usb. Leave it set at fat32

https://www.sevenforums.com/attachme...ll-usb7ice.zip

If you can't get it to do anything, then data recovery specialist is the way. Cheapest I have heard of is a place in Canada $300.

RichK35 · 11 Oct 2018

Thanks so much, will give it a try this afternoon!

SIW2 · 11 Oct 2018

Good luck, keep us updated.

RichK35 · 11 Oct 2018

I guess I'm hosed, as when I try to boot from the USB I created with your file, it goes through the 'windows is loading files' but then just shows windows splash screen for a second, and then black screen with cursor, nothing else.

Thanks,
Rich

SIW2 · 11 Oct 2018

Seems it can't enumerate the drive.

The other thing you could try might be a linux boot disc. They read drive information directly from the controller and often better in these situations.

RichK35 · 11 Oct 2018

Will try that this evening, thanks!!

Rich

Paul Black · 11 Oct 2018

Hi RichK35, welcome to Seven Forums,

I agree with SIW2.

You can create a Linux Live USB [this means that the Linux OS runs directly from the USB and not the HDD because it doesn't need installation]. This will read the HDD information which is inaccessible through Windows directly from the controller and is often a better solution in these types of situations. Another advantage of this is that you will have less activity on your HDD while you are trying to access it and retrieve [look at] the contents.

Download the Linux ISO [I have used Linux Mint for this example] from here => Linux Mint.

Now burn the ISO [you can't just copy and paste it because it won't work] to a USB using either: Rufus 3.3 or Rufus 3.3 Portable.

Now boot into the USB.

Nothing will be installed to your HDD unless you specifically tell it to. You can now retrieve [look at] the contents of the HDD from within Linux. When you have finished and want to go back into Windows, just remove the USB, then Shutdown and Restart the computer.

NOTE: I have used Linux Mint as an example. There are several other versions available which work in exactly the same way.

I hope this helps!