[SWLUG] Re: Run from CD Linux

[Julian Hall]

Rhys Sage wrote:

> Dell Inspirion
>
>1ghz CPU, Windows 98, FDD, 128mb, CDRW
>Win 98 will not boot. Data exists on the drive.
>Important tax data is on this computer.
>  
>
Plan B or C.. or something.....

Download a trial version of the latest Norton Ghost (HAS to be latest - 
early ones won't see NTFS in DOS) and make boot floppies.

Boot with the Ghost boot disks on the flaky PC and run it (earlier ones 
won't see NTFS).  Create a backup of the partition onto CD (provided the 
image is less than 650Mb or 4.5Gb if it's a DVD RW).  That *might* work.

>The HP appears to have a 38gb drive, formatted with a
>logical partition into a 6gb rescue partition and a
>32gb main data portion.
>
Depending how much of that data space is *used* Ghost might make an 
image small enough to fit on a CD

> I don't know if the useless
>oaf of an ex has mucked around with the rescue portion
>but I wouldn't mind betting he has.
>
Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.  Or in his case not so hidden.

>Of course... the good lady will not consider backups.
>  
>
Buy her a copy of Ghost and a pack of CDRWs for her birthday.  Maybe 
she'll get the hint, if this little episiode hasn't given enough of a 
hint already that is!

In the short term you have a tight deadline so probably the USB caddy is 
your safest bet.

Good luck!

Julian