How to get data off a damaged PC using UBUNTU

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If your PC will not run under Windows and you want to test the hardware with another operating system try UBUNTU.

If your PC will not run and you need to get some data off the hard drive, it may be possible with another operating system so try UBUNTU.

So what is this UBUNTU? – well, it is an operating system like Windows, the most important program that runs on a computer. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

Ubuntu is easy to use and free. The Ubuntu operating system powers millions of desktops, netbooks and servers around the world. Ubuntu does everything you need it to. It’ll work with your existing PC files, printers, cameras and MP3 players, and it comes with thousands of free applications.

So let’s see if it’s possible for your PC to boot from another Operating System.
This will at least test the hardware and also see if you can see the hard drive and possibly get data off it.

There are two ways to use Ubuntu; by creating a bootable CD on a different PC or by creating a bootable USB flashdrive.

To create a bootable CD you need to have another PC with a cd writer and a spare CD. Download the ISO: Download | UBUNTU

For a bootable USB flashdrive your PC will need to support booting off a USB Stick. If it does go to Download | UBUNTU

click on the image download ubuntu
Select a location then begin the download.
Save the file onto your PC – remember where you saved it so you can find it again to create the image bootable CD.

Do not copy the ISO file onto a CD – you have to use the ISO to create a bootable CD.
The CD creator software you have on the PC may have an option to create an image from an ISO. If not – use the free program ImgBurn

When the UBUNTU CD boots you will see a screen with Language on the left panel and two option images labelled:

Try ubuntu without any change to your computer

Install ubuntu.

You can try Ubuntu without making any changes to your computer directly from this CD by using OPTION 1 Try ubunto without any change to your computer

Only this option will run from the CD and not install onto your hard drive – be careful, if you do install onto the PC you will wipe the data and software off your hard drive.. so to repeat, only use Option 1.

Now you should see a Ubuntu desktop
This at least proves the main parts of the PC are working

You may see your hard drive on the desktop – if not have a look in the places on the tool bar at the top of the screen.
Once booted, at the top left corner of the screen in the tool bar, click on path, then click on computer. Once the computer window is opened, it should show all the drives mounted on the computer, and hopefully the bad one will show.

If you can see your hard drive see if you can find your data files.
If you are using Windows XP look in documents and settings under the user name you had on the PC.
If you are using Vista/Windows 7 look in users under the user name you had on the PC.

Now if you have a USB flash drive or external hard drive you should be able to copy your data from the hard drive onto the USB device or the external hard drive.

For Further Reading,

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