Plz Help!!! (desperate)

[SuperGecko12345]

Ok so school starts tomorrow... I do all my summer essays and stuff... and bam my comp goes down and I still need to print them.

I was surfing the net and the comp just restarted and said that some dll file was missing. Then it would not start. So I hit f8 and go into the setup. I go to reinstall windows (windows xp btw) and it says that I have 1 40 mb partition with 10 mb on it... so I'm like good still there. So should I pick the install in this partition option? Or the install in unused partition...? (or something like that) Will my files be saved if windows loads again or will they be erased? Am I going about this the right way? Is there any other way to do it like say put the hd on a different comp as a secondary data drive somehow and pull the files out... is that possible?

I urgently need help... thanks guys.

 

[moreDealsThanDS]

well, if you meant to say that you have one 40 GB partition with 10 GB on it, then yes, install on it there. you will have to reinstall your programs, even though they will still be on your computer. All your files will be on your computer, don't worry.

if you feel like pulling out your hd and putting it on another computer as a secondary drive that sounds like an even safer idea, and should work fine

 

[SuperGecko12345]

I hit a couple of nexts (seemingly normal stuff) and it says and I quote:

Caution a /windows folder already exists that may contain a windows instillation. If you continue the existing windows instillation will be over written.

All files subfolders user accounts applications, security and desktop setings for that windows instillation will be deleted. The my documents folder may also be deleated.

1 Use this folder and delete exsisting folder
2 chhose different folder


What do I do now? Are they just covering for themselves if something goes wrong by saying this. Or should I pick a different folder? Can you even do that? pick like c:/windows2 to load windows on?
Thanks in advance for input and I hope you understand why I am being so cautious there is like 20 hours of work in it.

 

[SuperGecko12345]

If no one can answer that (it is kinda of an obscure situation) ow about the loading of the hd on another computer because I just need those files! What is involved in that. Do I just hook it into an open ide and then it just pops up as d:?

I sure hope so thanks.

 

[SuperGecko12345]

Time is running thin, and I will really do anything at this point to get my files off that hard drive...

Any input at all into my situation would be very appreciated. Thanks

 

[Roddy]

I think your best bet would be to put the HDD that has the files you need off it into the other computer.
Set that HDD as slave on the same IDE cable, so your pc still boots from the normal drive..

Then when winxp starts, you should see the additional hdd.

Just a case of grabbing the files you want then...

Hope that helps

 

[Jeff7]

There might be a problem though with installing it on another computer - if it is in NTFS, the security settings might pose a problem. If that is the case, perhaps the Demo version of NTFS DOS Pro could help. You might be able to copy the files onto another drive, or even a floppy disk if they're small enough. This will remove long filenames, but the files should be fine.

Do I just hook it into an open ide and then it just pops up as d:?

Pretty much, yeah, that should be it. Stick it in a computer with a hard drive and a running install of Windows (9x if the files you need are on a FAT32 partition, 2k/XP for NTFS); the master/slave jumpers will need to be set on the hard drive you're adding.

Also, have you tried hitting F8 while the system starts, and use Last Known Good Configuration? Or maybe Safe Mode?

And finally, if you reinstall Windows onto the same partition it was originally on, your files should be fine - just be sure NOT to use anything concerning setting partitions, or (duh) formatting them.
When my Windows installs screw up, I don't usually format - I just wipe out the Program Files and Windows folders; at least that's what I did when I could see the drive from a boot disk; can't with NTFS anymore.