I need help on copying files

[blue_jeans_vb]

Hi

It's been a while since my last post. My brother's laptop isn't loading windows vista. I'm planning on reformatting and installing a new windows. But first, here's the problem. He needs the files in the mydocuments directory and desktop. So I downloaded ultimate boot cd. It is working. But I couldn't access the harddrive(2 partitions, i'm planning on copying those files to the d: partition).
Could an expert help me on this. Thanks.

[MrMille]

Make sure you aren't going to obliterate a hidden partition with the system restore on it, before you format the drive.

[stevenamills]

Give Knoppix a shot.

[seedubya]

Can you explain a little more clearly what you mean by cannot access? Can you see the drives/partitions? Are you being refused access somehow? What EXACTLY do you see happening?

[Crgky127]

Does the boot CD know the size of the partitions? In UBCD4Win it's displayed on the desktop.

[puterpoker]

I wonder if hard drive failure could be involved?

Use knoppix or puppy linux to rescue the files. Make sure to mount the volume. With puppy linux there is a utility used to Mount/Unmount drives. It's available through the menu in the bottom left corner (like the windows start button)

[blue_jeans_vb]

Can you explain a little more clearly what you mean by cannot access? Can you see the drives/partitions? Are you being refused access somehow? What EXACTLY do you see happening?

Yes I am being refused access- I don't remember it exactly. I cannot go to c prompt (c:\) and d prompt (d:\). What I'm planning to do is go to c pormpt and manually copy it to a d prompt folder.

[seedubya]

It's difficult without the exact message. However, I'd make a guess at him having made his profile "private" meaning you CANNOT access it without logging in with the correct username and password. The other reason might be that you're running into permissions problems. The easiest way around this is to hook the HDD up to another PC and take ownership of everything on the drive; then you'll have rights to copy whatever you need.

[blue_jeans_vb]

It's difficult without the exact message. However, I'd make a guess at him having made his profile "private" meaning you CANNOT access it without logging in with the correct username and password. The other reason might be that you're running into permissions problems. The easiest way around this is to hook the HDD up to another PC and take ownership of everything on the drive; then you'll have rights to copy whatever you need.

I think he made it "private". I did not fixed the problem of the laptop. I had it repaired by a technician. He just restored the system and it booted normally.