Hi and welcome to the WTT forums
Sorry to hear of the problems with your machine.
1 If your machine won't boot into Windows then its
usually possible to copy off your important data files, either using a Knoppix (Linux disc) or Barts Pre installed Environment disc), or similar ,both of which provide USB support to enable you to copy your stuff to a USB drive or Flash (thumb) drive.
2 As an alternative you could remove the hard drive and "slave" it to a another machine and try to copy off the data that way.
3 As a further alternative you could use an external harddrive case or even an IDE/SATA>>USB connector +5V power supply to access your drive and try to copy off the data to another machine.
4 These steps are often successful especially if your hard drive is not badly damaged but just has errors on it that prevent Windows from starting.
If you need detailed information on how to carry out these procedures and the safety implications of opening your machine for (2 and 3 above) then please post back and we will advise you further.
5 Before you go to do this, are you sure that Windows will not start?
6 Have you tried to start in safe mode and selected last good configuration?
7 Have you access to the Microsoft XP installation disc?
8 Have you tried to enter the Recovery Console?
9 Have you tried to run chkdsk /r to attempt a repair of any bad sectors on your hard drive?
10 Have you made a disc image recently?
11 Finally (you'll be pleased to hear that this is the final question!) was the opinion that:
and I was told the hard drive had a bad sector on it and therefore I cannot retrieve any of my IMPORTANT information from it.
from a competent local computer technician given after carrying out the usual diagnostics checks?…or was it a less formal opinion perhaps provided by a friend?
Sorry about all the questions…. but it's important to have the have answers so we can advise you correctly.
The fact that you have a bad sector on your hard drive is not necessarily fatal…..it depends on how much of it is bad…
Regards
paws
