Help retrieving pictures from dead laptop.

[ContraptionMaker]

How bout a non-destructive reinstall of windows? I have done this several times and it has saved me as many times.
This is not my article. It is from the Information Week newsletter I get. I hope this is ok to post like this.
If not just let me know, I'll take it down and post a link instead.

(edit) I have decided to remove this post to prevent copyright infringement. I have a letter into the editor for permission to post this on TBCS. If granted I will post the entire article in the tutorial section. In the mean time here is a link to the original post.

Langa Letter: XP's No-Reformat, Nondestructive Total-Rebuild Option
http://www.informationweek.com/news/...leID=189400897

[luciusad2004]

Omg thank you. I had no clue you could do that. I got bored last night so i just transfered all of her pictures over to my laptop via my 1GB thumb drive so they are all safe. Took me all night though. If she has her install DVDs I'll give the repair a try and see if i can get it back up and running. I was careful w/ my wording when speaking w/ her so that I'm only really onboard to save her pictures, but if I can get it running w/out her having to run to a computer shop, or w/out someone else she knows wiping the hold HDD i suppose that would be great. It gets frustrating sometimes lol, Everyone knows I'm a comp sci major but they don't know that all i learn in school is programming, not maintenance. I really don't know much about repair.

Thanks everyone

[ContraptionMaker]

Omg thank you. I had no clue you could do that. I got bored last night so i just transfered all of her pictures over to my laptop via my 1GB thumb drive so they are all safe. Took me all night though. If she has her install DVDs I'll give the repair a try and see if i can get it back up and running. I was careful w/ my wording when speaking w/ her so that I'm only really onboard to save her pictures, but if I can get it running w/out her having to run to a computer shop, or w/out someone else she knows wiping the hold HDD i suppose that would be great. It gets frustrating sometimes lol, Everyone knows I'm a comp sci major but they don't know that all i learn in school is programming, not maintenance. I really don't know much about repair.

Thanks everyone

Hey no prob! It's one of those many undocumented things that MS$ just "neglects" to mention!

[SXRguyinMA]

glad you saved them I was going to offer you one of the millions of SATA cables I have lying around if you still need/want one let me know, I'll send it to ya

[phen0m]

I think the CD burning will be the easiest.
Even though there is 5 1/2 gb.
All modern CD's hold 700MB so it shouldn't be too bad depending on the optical drive write speed.

[nevermind1534]

That's a good find. +rep

[luciusad2004]

serious lawls. My laptop crashed and i lost all of the pictures after staying up all night and transfering them. They are still on her hdd though so it looks like i have to purchase a sata cable after all. Anyway, i had a question:

If i have the product key for windows do i need the original install disk to install windows or can i use a buddies install disk and just put in her product key. The product key should be the one found on the little sticker on the bottom of her machine right? I ask because, she says that her ex has her install disks and i know she isn't going to talk to him just to get her hands on them and i can't afford to purchase windows for her (if XP can even be found still)

Thanks for any info guys.