Immediate Assistance Please! Blue Screen Emergency!

[MSIC]

You don't need to physically remove the hard disk to back it up, you simply need to be in a working operating system and have an alternative storage device (like a USB key, or an external hard drive, or even the internet!).
"But Windows isnt working" you say.
A Linux LiveCD I say.

You need 1 working computer, a reasonable broadband connection, 1 blank CD and around 1 hour to make one. I'd probably suggest Knoppix for your purpose.

[Galant]

How do I download the knoppix, there are ton of files. I hate to be such a pain, but I'm trying to get this done asap, because the computer will be needed soon. And I'm hoping for it not to be missed!

Do I download all the files shown on any of the mirror sites and then burn a CD? Or is there a faster way by physically moving the hard drive?

[Galant]

What's the 'in place upgrade' they're talking about on the 10 things you can do website?

EDIT - I'm just looking to put the LiveCD together and solve this. If anyone could help me through this right now I'd be grateful. Maybe via IM? This is someone else's work laptop I'm trying to fix and they will need it soon. I really am desperate.

Thanks.

[MSIC]

HI, you just need to download one single file, an ISO, which you then burn onto a CD.
I've copied the link location here:
ftp://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/knoppi...7-01-04-EN.iso
You need to have a CD writer (obviously) and a program that understands what an ISO is... any modern program such as Nero can do it, alternatively i can link to a quick and simple ISO writing program.

Knoppix won't necessarily FIX windows though (it can, but it might not). The purpose of this would primarily be to rescue your data. If you then, eventually need to do a wipe and re-install of Windows, at least you have all your stuff.
I think honestly however it might be wise to confess to your friend, and then try to fix it.

I'd personally still persist with the Windows Rescue disc, with FIXMBR etc

[Galant]

Hello again. I just wanted to get back to everyone who helped and to say thank you for your time, effort and assistance.

The situation resolved itself, somewhat unfavourably, out of my hands. After trying chkdsk /p /r, fixboot, fixmbr, and one other iirc, nothing worked. I was downloading knoppix to prepare to retrieve info but ran out of time to implement the plan - I had to go to work. Whilst at work my father, to whom I had confessed my error, sent me a text message to let me know he had decided to try a reinstallation of XP over the previous one, in hope to fix it and keep the files. It didn't work of course, and though XP was up and running, file recovery attempts surrendered nothing valuable.

So the next day, I formatted the drive and reinstalled XP and went from there. I also had to write a nice letter of apology to the lady whose computer I wiped. She was remarkably forgiving, and so although a repair would have been nice, this has ended quite cleanly.

My Dad knows what his next Christmas gift is going to be, at least in part - a back-up!

And I am proceeding to download Ubuntu on a Live CD just in case I or anyone else I know end up in this situation. I'm also thinking of just switching to Linux anyway - but that's another thread!

Thanks to everyone for assistance.

You did help a lot. I learned a lot. And I appreciate your willingness and good humour!

Score once again for Hexus. The other forum I contacted didn't do a thing!

Regards,

G.