Topic: Could Linux help?

[Simon]

A friend has a hard drive where Windows is on the C partition, and Documents on the D partition.  Windows is knackered, and the C drive is so full that it has less than 200mb disc space left, and the computer basically won't function. 

Would booting from a Linux CD enable them to recover their data on the D partition, to an external hard drive?  If so, how exactly is this done?

Alternatively, could they boot from a Windows CD, delete the C partition and reinstall Windows, without putting the data on D drive at risk?  Could they also expand the C partition this way, and again, would this put their data at risk?

I'm not getting involved with this one, other than to offer advice!

[Rodders]

Why not just mount the drive in an external enclosure on another box and backup/delete out some of the crap from the ailing HDD?  Then you can do a windows repair once you've got some breathing space.

[Simon]

Because they haven't got an enclosure or another box, and I'm not taking mine to bits! 

[Rodders]

What kind of computer-mender-man are you?   

[Simon]

The current plan is to use an external USB drive to try to save some of the essential data, then to format and reintall Windows. 

[Simon]

One that's tired of spending my free time on other people's machines! 

[Simon]

The current plan is, of course, reliant on Windows being able to wheeze it's way through the process, without completely croaking. 

[Rodders]

One that's tired of spending my free time on other people's machines! 

I know the feeling.  On the other hand, I've just had my car valeted to showroom standard in exchange for sorting someone's laptop.   

[Simon]

Nice trade. 

[davy51]

Make a copy of Puppy live cd

Use it to put all the info on a disc

When the live cd opens all drives should be mounted

Its basically an easy process once the info is saved on a disc
You can do anything you want with the hard drives

Repair the windows install or a complete reinstall


Puppy



http://is.gd/hNpqt7

[Simon]

Thanks Dave. 

[davy51]

Your welcome Simon
Its what i use for all repairs and virus removal on all my friends windows installs

[GillE]

I have a HDD partitioned between Windows Vista and Ubuntu.  Could I use a live CD to remove Ubuntu and free up more space for Vista?

[davy51]

I have a HDD partitioned between Windows Vista and Ubuntu.  Could I use a live CD to remove Ubuntu and free up more space for Vista?

Yes use gparted in puppy to delete ubuntu then use it to expand the windows partician

then you have one of two choices either install grub with puppy or use a windows disc and repair windows mbr


Windows mbr will be messed up when you remove ubuntu so it will need to be repaired before you can log in

[Simon]

What about the data on the D partition of my friend's drive, Dave?  If I use Gparted to expand the C drive, does that not put the other data at risk, given it's all on one physical drive?