Laptop Crash HALP!!!!

[Electrical_Tech]

So I'm working on a little database project last night, arranging my spreadsheet template (it's a cable schedule for electrical and control cables), browsing the internet and that's about it when the computer freezes. First time ever in the 6 months (approx.) that I've had it.

I try the ctrl alt del to see about stopping the non-responding program, and eventually I end up at a screen that asks to shut down, switch users, cancel etc. So I just cancel and everything seems normal for a second and then it all freezes again. When I say freeze I should clarify that the mouse still worked and I could switch from internet explorer to excel to windows explorer and msn no problem. I just couldn't do anything in any of the programs.

This time the freeze doesn't go away so I press and hold the power button until the laptop shuts down. Reboot and I get the "windows didn't shut down properly" error and asks if I want to safemode boot or just start normally. I choose to start normally as it was a random occurance of a glitch I figured.

Nope. The laptop fails to boot again, so I press and hold the power button and wait for a minute. Then start up again and this time get the "windows failed to start properly" and the option to launch boot repair mode (I think that's what they called it) or start windows normally. I figure to try the repair mode (recommended) and it starts to do its thing. Loading files, starting windows etc.

I end up with a blank screen and my mouse pointer there. No icons or anything.

So I shut down once more pull the battery and let it sit for a while. Try all the above again with the same results.

Sooooo .. apart from being pissed as my client wants his database and now I can't work on it .. I'm also concerned.

The machine is still under warranty so that's not a big deal, but, I have a bunch of .. ummm .. sensitive content on my hard drive that I don't want some computer tech gettin his "phreak on" over, so I want to simply be able to get onto the laptop somehow to either transfer those files or delete them before sending the unit for warranty.

I'm so far out of the technology loop now I'm not sure even what to google for in terms of a bootable USB with a recovery tool or such.

Any of you tech savvy peeps able to suggest/help a fellow out?

Thanks a bunch !!

Trev

[acalliste]

Do you have the windows install disk, or a recovery disk that came with the computer?

[Electrical_Tech]

Not with me. Therein lies my problem. I'm looking for a downloadable recovery tool that I can put on my thumbdrive. If I was at home it would be a joke, but I'm at camp and don't have those utilities with me.

[acalliste]

You are unprepared.

[kevin_stevens]

So the laptop is working perfectly. Windows is hosed. Strange that people don't make that distinction.

If you just need the info off of it, I would try a Linux LiveCD that can read the NTFS partition.

KeS

[Electrical_Tech]

Originally Posted by kevin_stevens

So the laptop is working perfectly. Windows is hosed. Strange that people don't make that distinction.

If you just need the info off of it, I would try a Linux LiveCD that can read the NTFS partition.

KeS

Info/Linky? Can this be done on a thumbdrive with a 2GB capacity?

[kevin_stevens]

Originally Posted by Electrical_Tech

Info/Linky? Can this be done on a thumbdrive with a 2GB capacity?

NTFS Data Recovery Software. BootDisk, Freeware NTFS DOS and more...

SystemRescueCd

Both are going to be problematic if you don't have a machine to DL and burn them from.

KeS

[Electrical_Tech]

I have my work machine to download. As long as websense doesn't block the site ...

Thanks Kev

[bumblebee]

Moral to this story, put your porn on an external hard drive

[Electrical_Tech]

Need another harddrive then the other one is already full