...what methods have you used to successfuly resurrect an XP system that just won't boot at all? with the autoexec and config files no longer there in general, it seems the choices are much more limited.
I've been using SpinRite since v1.0 was released a decade and a half ago.
My standard Oh Sh-one-t! Windows Repair Kit contains:
SpinRite 6.0 (If this can't recover data of a corrupted hard disk, then it's time for the big dollar professionals)
MemTest86 3.1a (You never know, it might be faulty memory that manages to pass the BIOS boot tests)
Ghost 2003 (If the disk is readable but not bootable, Ghost will let me capture all the data to another HDD, or a series of CDRs or DVDRs. Once I have a snapshot of the problem disk, I know that I can attack the original disk with gusto and if I really screw things up, I can reloaad the Ghost image. Plus I can use GhostExplorer on another Windows computer to extract all the files and data from the ghost image files.)
Offline password editors (These are bootable CDs that contain software to allow me to edit lost Windows Admin or User passwords. Have a look here for information.)
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timeasmymeasure
Rubber Chicken and SpinRite 6
Date: 2005-05-25 05:12 pm (UTC)Re: Rubber Chicken and SpinRite 6
Date: 2005-05-26 08:49 am (UTC)I've heard of this thing... mebbe it's time to add it to my resource kit...
*wags* ... thanks woof!
Re: Rubber Chicken and SpinRite 6
Date: 2005-05-26 10:15 am (UTC)My standard Oh Sh-one-t! Windows Repair Kit contains:
SpinRite 6.0 (If this can't recover data of a corrupted hard disk, then it's time for the big dollar professionals)
MemTest86 3.1a (You never know, it might be faulty memory that manages to pass the BIOS boot tests)
Ghost 2003 (If the disk is readable but not bootable, Ghost will let me capture all the data to another HDD, or a series of CDRs or DVDRs. Once I have a snapshot of the problem disk, I know that I can attack the original disk with gusto and if I really screw things up, I can reloaad the Ghost image. Plus I can use GhostExplorer on another Windows computer to extract all the files and data from the ghost image files.)
Offline password editors (These are bootable CDs that contain software to allow me to edit lost Windows Admin or User passwords. Have a look here for information.)