I have a big problem if anyone can help me fix it

[Gator]

I have a IBM 3.2ghz computer with windows XP, the computer has been giving a few errors lately not to bad but a few like memory cant be read at 00.0000.00xx or something like that. The problem is it locked up so I had to turn it off by turning the power off and when it restarted the black sreen came up telling you there was a problem to restart in safe mode, or safe mode with network, or safe mode ? or restart with last known good ??, and restart normal. So far I can't get any of them to work, I really need some important info off of my document files in open office programs like kids info in sports and some car files i had saved. Is there any way to get the computer to start in safe mode for me to load these files to a USB drive, I really aint worried about the computer just the files.

 

[rpn453]

Try putting your xp re-installation disc in and booting with that to access the recovery console. Hitting F12 at start-up brings up the boot menu on mine so that I can use the disc. Type chkdsk /p in the command line to check the disc for errors and chkdsk /r to repair them if any are found. This brought my computer back to life a couple of times. I also used the command fixboot to repair it once, but I don't remember the details of the situation where that applied.

Others may have more tricks, but that's all I've got. If that fails, I'd put another hard drive in and re-install on that. The files on the other drive should still be accessible after that if the drive is functional at all. You could also buy an adapter to convert the hard drive to an external drive that other computers can access.

 

[newtoncd8]

I would recommend http://www.livecdlist.com/ and select a Linux distribution or WinPE. You will create a Live CD (or USB), boot off of it and when it is up and running, plug in a USB drive to capture your files.

 

[GMBoy]

Open the case and remove and re-seat your memory boards. Sounds like a memory card issue, either a bad one or loose. I had something similar to me happen and when I seated the cards, it was fixed.

 

[JHZR2]

Yeah I'd either boot off of a USB stick and copy to it/another stick, or else pull the drive, stick it in a USB converter case, and run it as a normal USB HD on another computer.

 

[Gator]

Wow great fast information, unfortuanately those are too big of words for me to understand, I am really a begginner and will need some more simple instructions.

 

[SrDriver]

I have used System Rescue CD in the past to copy the files I wanted to a thumb drive.

Link To System CD

Another option is to remove the hard from the computer and buy an external USB Adapter for the drive.

Some stores (Best Buy comes to mind) may help get your files transferred over to a new computer too.

 

[newtoncd8]

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download and look at option #2.

On the right side, select "show me how".

It will walk you through step-by-step how to create a "Live CD"

Once you have booted up, plug in your USB flash drive and transfer your files.

Done.

 

[rpn453]

Do you have an xp reinstall/repair disc? They were included with some computers, but not all.

 

[Gator]

I downloaded ubuntu and the computer will boot up now but instead of windows it is in ubuntu,, i cant find my old my document files or any other thing that i use to have only ubuntu,, any help fixing this problem now to find my old files.

 

[wavinwayne]

Originally Posted By: Gator
I downloaded ubuntu and the computer will boot up now but instead of windows it is in ubuntu,, i cant find my old my document files or any other thing that i use to have only ubuntu,, any help fixing this problem now to find my old files.


Look at the top of your screen. Click "Places". Assuming you didn't install Ubuntu over Windows, your Windows partition should show up under "Places". On my computer, my Windows partition shows up as "199 GB Filesystem". Hope that helps.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: Gator
Wow great fast information, unfortuanately those are too big of words for me to understand, I am really a begginner and will need some more simple instructions.


Bring your computer to someone that can help you.

 

[newtoncd8]

The link I sent --option 2-- was for creating a "live CD". I hate to ask a stupid question, but is the "live CD" still in the CD tray?

 

[Gator]

No, I downloaded option 2 to a usb drive, inserted the usb into the compute booted it up and it worked automatically,, now i have removed the usb stick and it continues to boot up in ubuntu and I cant find my old files.

 

[newtoncd8]

Originally Posted By: Gator
No, I downloaded option 2 to a usb drive, inserted the usb into the compute booted it up and it worked automatically,, now i have removed the usb stick and it continues to boot up in ubuntu and I cant find my old files.


If Ubuntu is working okay, it has a file manager called Nautilus. Use Nautilus to copy all of your files to your usb drive.

Once your files are safe and backed up, you can restore the Windows Master Boot Record.