i have a really terrible problem!

[prx984]

this ntfs file system is great and all, but now i cant get access to some files i really need badly. my friends laptop just died and now it wont power on. nothing, it just sits there. so, i took the HDD outa the computer and put it into one of my external hdd caddies and i can see the folder i need, but i cant access it. my friend passworded his account. i also tried putting the drive into my computer to boot it up and put the pass word it to get the files, but the drive wont boot in my computer. it just sits at a flashing curser after the DELL logo thingy. and its weird, because both of our computers are dells. so i figured it would boot. but i guess maybe the difference in the bios is enough. my friend needs his files tommorrow or he fails english class. so, its really up to me to help him out. if i cant get it tonight, i most likley can tommorrow at school. but id kinda like to have it for him in the morning that way he can hand in his stuff and not fail english. is there anyway that i can remove the password protection from his account and retrieve the files for him tommorrow. if not then i will take my laptop to school with me and at lunch i can hopefully get the computer to boot. but id rather not rely on that. so does anyone know anything? please i need this badly.

i can understand if you dont want to help, because it could sound like im trying to do something else. but i totally assure you that im trying to get files for my friend. if i cant get it tonight, i can hopefully get it tommorrow for him. so if you cant help me, i totally understand why. thanks for looking.

-brian

[Bigbrit]

You need to build a "PE CD". Self booting CD that is a modified XP.

http://www.ubcd4win.com/

Check in the downloads section and follow instructions.

Make the CD on a friends PC and then boot from the PE disk.

Start - Programs - File Managers ??

If you have an external HD or Flash, have it plugged in when booting

Find and copy your files.

[TheFlash428]

I've actually had better luck with a Knoppix CD (Linux live CD). You can download an image and burn it a CD and it's just that easy. As long as the hard drive is plugged into the computer, you should be able to mount it and view the files, as well as copy them to an alternate location.

[prx984]

thank you guys for the replies. i searched a lot longer on the net and found a program called "Diskinternals NTFS Reader" and i got the files recovered with that. aparently it just skips the security and stuff. so i got the files back for my friend and hes really happy about it now lol. just hopefully he doesnt fail english now. also, i bought the laptop off him for 35 bucks, any one know how to get a latitude cpi to power on? i had it working for a little while, but now its not. anyway, thanks for the replies.

-brian

[nitroshift]

what windows is installed onto that laptop? 2k or xp? either way you will need to either repair that windows installation or reinstall windows. have you tried booting in safe mode? if you manage to boot into safe mode go in start ---> run and type msconfig. under the startup tab uncheck all the entries and reboot in normal way. see if it works. good luck!

[prx984]

already got it working lol. thanks for the reply though.

-brian