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Solved saving files in windows safe mode

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kingmaker

PCHF Member
Apr 6, 2020
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I have a very old desktop that i want to dump,it will only run in safe mode.
I am attempting to save the photos on the hard drive,i can see them in documents and in google picasa.
When i first looked at saving them i could right click and it gave me an option to save them,but i did not get around to actualy working it out.
Now it does not seem to give any save options ,i wanted to put them on a memory stick,
I am signed on as administrator
 
Welcome to PCHF kingmaker,

Been a long time since I last used XP so rather rusty I`m afraid, can you not right click on the pictures and then send them to your memory stick.
 
You could try Puppy Linux on either a CD or USB thumb drive, see info below;

Can I ask that you do not quote every reply, it really does not help any and just makes for unnecessary reading, thanks.


===================

***Required Hardware***

CD Burner (CDRW) Drive,

Blank CD,

Extra Storage Device (USB Flash Drive, External Hard Drive)


===================



1. Save these files to your Desktop/Burn Your Live CD:
  • Download Latest Puppy Linux ISO (i.e.: lupu-528.iso)

    Download BurnCDCC ISO Burning Software



    There are instructions on how to boot from flash drive with puppy here; http://www.pendrivelinux.com/put-lucid-puppy-on-usb-flash-drive-from-windows/


    • Open BurnCDCC with Windows Explorer
    • Extract All files to a location you can remember
    • Double Click
      1 BurnCDCC Icon.PNG
      BurnCDCC
    • Click Browse
      2 BurnCDCC Browse Button.PNG
      and navigate to the Puppy Linux ISO file you just downloaded
    • Open/Double Click that file

      IMPORTANT: Adjust the speed bar to CD: 4x DVD: 1x
    • Click Start
      3 BurnCDCC Start Button.PNG

    • Your CD Burner Tray will open automatically
    • Insert a blank CD and close the tray
    • Click OK
    Puppy Linux Live CD will now be created

2. Set your boot priority in the BIOS to CD-ROM first, Hard Drive Second

    • Start the computer/press the power button
    • Immediately start tapping the appropriate key to enter the BIOS, aka "Setup"

      (Usually shown during the "Dell" screen, or "Gateway" Screen)
    • Once in the BIOS, under Advanced BIOS Options change boot priority to:

      CD-ROM 1st, Hard Drive 2nd
    • Open your ROM drive and insert the disk
    • Press F10 to save and exit
    • Agree with "Y" to continue
    • Your computer will restart and boot from the Puppy Linux Live CD



      4 BIOSBootPriorityImage.png




3. Recover Your Data

  • Once Puppy Linux has loaded, it is actually running in your computer's Memory (RAM). You will see a fully functioning Graphical User Interface similar to what you normally call "your computer". Internet access may or may not be available depending on your machine, so it is recommended you print these instructions before beginning. Also, double clicking is not needed in Puppy. To expand, or open folders/icons, just click once. Puppy is very light on resources, so you will quickly notice it is much speedier than you are used to. This is normal. Ready? Let's get started.



    3a. Mount Drives
    • Click the Mount Icon located at the top left of your desktop.
      5 Puppy Linux Mount Icon.PNG

    • A Window will open. By default, the "drive" tab will be forward/highlighted. Click on Mount for your hard drive.
    • Assuming you only have one hard drive and/or partition, there may be only one selection to mount.
    • USB Flash Drives usually automatically mount upon boot, but click the "usbdrv" tab and make sure it is mounted.
    • If using an external hard drive for the data recovery, do this under the "drive" tab. Mount it now.

    3b. Transfer Files.
    • At the bottom left of your desktop a list of all hard drives/partitions, USB Drives, and Optical Drives are listed with a familiar looking hard drive icon.
    • Open your old hard drive i.e. sda1
    • Next, open your USB Flash Drive or External Drive. i.e. sdc or sdb1
    • If you open the wrong drive, simply X out at the top right corner of the window that opens. (Just like in Windows)
    • From your old hard drive, drag and drop whatever files/folders you wish to transfer to your USB Drive's Window.

    For The Novice: The common path to your pictures, music, video, and documents folders for XP is: Documents and Settings >> All Users (or each individual name of each user, for Vista and above C:\Users\$USERNAME\[...]. CHECK All Names!) >> Documents >> You will now see My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos.



    Remember to only click once! No double clicking! Once you drag and drop your first folder, you will notice a small menu will appear giving you the option to move or copy. Choose COPY each time you drag and drop.



    YOU ARE DONE!!! Simply click Menu >> Mouse Over Shutdown >> Reboot/Turn Off Computer. Be sure to plug your USB Drive into another working windows machine to verify all data is there and transferred without corruption. Congratulations!







    PuppyLinux528screenshot.png

 
so is this better than taking the hard drive out and connecting it to another pc,or will both methods work? to be honest its a bit out my depth but i have burnt my puppy cd.I am worried the hard drive i am trying to get the images off will crash totaly any moment
 
Puppy Linux is both the easiest and safest way of accessing a HDD and for the following reasons.

If the drive is flaky removing it could be the straw that breaks the camels back.

Any newer version of Windows may not recognise the device and/or the data on it

Puppy boots from the RAM and not the HDD so does not place any stress on the drive.
 
Just give it a go, I am sure that you will be fine, you have after all managed to burn a Puppy CD and while not rocket science to do it is the most difficult step of the process.

Just change the boot sequence in the BIOS so that it boots from the CD first, let Puppy load into the RAM and then follow the steps put up on the screen for you.

Got to ask, if the data is important enough for you to consider using a data recover service why do you not already have a couple of back up copies, XP became obsolete some six years ago.

NB: Are you aware as to the potential cost of using a data recovery service and the fact that you do not get any guarantee that any data at will be recovered while still having to pay for the service.
 
I loaded the disc i could only see an option to boot from cd-rom however i pressed enter and not f10 does that matter?
I got to the linux screen and mounted the hard drive and the usb drive ,there are only 78 files and they are all to do with the operating system.
what do i do next?
 
Do you not see a folder called My Pictures?

As I said previously I have not use XP for many years but I recall that being where pictures and photos etc were kept.

Have you made sure that the drive is not partitioned with Windows XP on one and data on the other, this would appear as if there were two HDDs available to mount. Going offline shortly I1m afraid as I have an early start.
 
i loaded 2 parts to the hard drive mount sd1, ,2 ,3
the only files i can veiw are all the drivers dell put on,usb,keyboard,sound stuff with exe in the tiltle,nothing to do with windows or any files saved on windows.
I went into set up when booting i could not see any info on any hard drive partition,i am sure i had seen partition mentioned somewhere but could any info.
This computer was in a spare room and was conected to the internet by cable so was more reliable than our wireless pc,and i used to play old games on it,then when it went wrong i did not bin it because i hoped i could get my photos off it.
The photos are still on the hard drive,but linux is not veiwing them
 
I am attempting to save the photos on the hard drive,i can see them in documents and in google picasa.
Can you still see the pictures in documents and just cannot save them - how long ago did you last see the pictures in full format.

I wont ask about Picasa as I know nothing about it + it is obsolete and has been for years so we won`t get any help there.

The photos are still on the hard drive,but linux is not veiwing them
If they are still on the HDD and you know where to look Linux will find them and as long as the data has not been corrupted or converted to an unknown format recover them, trust me, have used Puppy to help folk recover their data, if it is there and recoverable Puppy will do the job which is not bad for something like our help costs you nothing.

NB: Are you aware as to the potential cost of using a data recovery service and the fact that you do not get any guarantee that any data at will be recovered while still having to pay for the service.
You never acknowledged the above so fwiw you can get yourself a free assessment for data recovery here

NB: Can I just make sure that what your saw are the actual photos and not short cuts to the photo`s, have seen this done once before, lucky enough the mistake was noticed before the HDD had been discarded.
 
i loaded 3 parts to the hard drive mount sda1, ,2 and 3
Puppy is seeing the floppy drive,usb,optical drive and it just says drive,also i assume hard drive,sda1 sad2 sda3 about 180 files in total.
the only files i can veiw are all the drivers dell put on,usb,keyboard,sound stuff with exe in the tiltle,nothing to do with windows or any files saved on windows.
I went into set up when booting i could not see any info on any hard drive partition,i am sure i had seen partition mentioned somewhere but could any info.


This computer was in a spare room and was conected to the internet by cable so was more reliable than our wireless pc,and i used to play old games on it,then when it went wrong i did not bin it because i hoped i could get my photos off it.it was just buried under some stuff.
The photos are still on the hard drive,but linux is not veiwing them

Is there something in the puppy navigation i am missing to veiw everthing in windows

Or is the fact that windows will not given me a save option for the files when in safe mode any more mean they are corrupted or something

The photos have suddenly become important for a revamp of my website,also there is family stuff too
 
The photos are still on the hard drive,but linux is not veiwing them
You mentioned this previously and it was addressed;

If they are still on the HDD and you know where to look Linux will find them and as long as the data has not been corrupted or converted to an unknown format recover them

A question was asked regarding the following from your OP but missed answering it;

I am attempting to save the photos on the hard drive,i can see them in documents and in google picasa.

Can you still see the pictures in documents and just cannot save them - how long ago did you last see the pictures in full format.

For now just answer this for us if you will.
 
Hi the pictures are in documents,and they cannot be saved yesterday when i right click them or click file,it was a couple of monthes ago that the save option seemed to still work,to be honest i am not sure how to determine if they are full format,or if they are corrupted.
Is linux not opening the files I am looking for due to the hard drive partition maybe?
 
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