Emergency Kit - save your files from a dead OS

ThrashZone · 16 Aug 2015

Hi,
This is designed to transfer personal files only
Not programs....

A large flash drive can be used to copy and paste the personal files onto using Linux or another flash drive connected at the same time as running Linux recovery or even a external hdd enclosure,

Another option would be to remove the messed up hdd completely,
Put it in a hdd enclosure
Install a new or spare smaller hdd and install Linux on it,

Then connect the old hdd and recover your personal files that way.

I might add this is mainly for a dead operating system not a dead hdd
There is a large difference.

Berton · 16 Aug 2015

If the HDD is still readable I use a Linux LiveCD or LiveDVD made from a downloaded .iso file for the version of Linux, boot to it and copy files to a different drive. I usually use Linux Mint 16 or later but for some older Centrino computers have Linux Mint 13 to fall back to.

MDRI · 16 Aug 2015

Thanks for your suggestions.

This is designed to transfer personal files only
Not programs....

What are the options, I have to back up/restore installed programs/tools/Registry etc?

I do not have an external hdd enclosure. Do I able to use large flash drive for this?

Thanks for sharing.

Berton · 16 Aug 2015

For my reply, I put a USB Thumb/Flash drive in the computer, put the DVD in the Optical drive and boot up. Might have to change the boot sequence in the BIOS or press a key such as F12, etc., to choose what to boot. Once loaded it's simple file management to copy from the HDD to the Thumb drive. I copy only those things the user created, things that exist nowhere else. But then I do this a couple times a week, working on one now.

MDRI · 16 Aug 2015

Thanks again. I understand.

What are the options, I have to back up/restore user installed programs/tools/Registry etc?

What did you do for these items , when you do back up/restore?

Thanks for sharing.

ThrashZone · 16 Aug 2015

Hi,
Well if the programs came in a zip folder you can copy and paste them but anything simply ran to install would have to be re-downloaded from where ever they got them

First you should see if you can even access the drive at all and see the personal files.

MDRI · 18 Aug 2015

Thanks for your suggestions.

I do have lot of installed software/tools for which I do not have KEYS to reinstall. These are not zip files (eg MS Office)

I have three(3) user logins in this laptop such as Admin, Local user1, Local user 2.

Are there any backup/restore software to pull/push user by user?

Thanks for sharing.

ThrashZone · 18 Aug 2015

Hi,
I personally don't see how to do that
Possibly ask a new question and some others might know how ?
I'd at the least see if the drive is actually accessible first

Good luck
Cheers.

Layback Bear · 19 Aug 2015

From post #76

I do have lot of installed software/tools for which I do not have KEYS to reinstall. These are not zip files (eg MS Office)

How can this be?
Why and how can one have a lot of programs and tools that need keys installed and yet not have the keys to activate them properly?

ICIT2LOL · 06 Nov 2015

I do have lot of installed software/tools for which I do not have KEYS to reinstall. These are not zip files (eg MS Office)

Well all you need for any M$ keys is the Magic Jell Bean see this Product Key Number for Windows 7 - Find and See it works because I have used it to reistall Pro 7 where the seller did not provide any media but I have the code and an ISO I saved from Heidoc.com they shut down