how to start my machien in dos and copy files

[mollymoo]

my machine opens up ok to start with but by the time is fully loaded has just a black screen with the arrow cursor showing.

so i want to start my machine to boot up in DOS and hten type in a command to copy my 'my documents' to an external hard drive

does anyone know these commands i need to use and also how to bott it up in DOS if i dont have the windows OS strarting up

thanks

[ChuckFickens]

Not that easy!!

to boot into dos you will need a DOS boot disk and the you'd also need to sort out installing DOS USB drivers so you can access the external hard drive!

I would use a live LINUX CD (i.e. a linux cd you can boot from that doesn't change anything on the hard drive) as the correct ones will install all the correct drivers to enable you to back up your my docs folder.

I know ubuntu will let you do this,

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

make the CD and boot your computer from that.

[mollymoo]

oh gosh that is complicated

i might have to see if there is somethign easier.

basicallky what happneed was my machine asked to do a twst when it booted up as it had some issues with the c drive so i hit yes but an hour later it said it was still listing all the security ID's that were corrupt for smething, but the battery ran out as i had just keft it going not thinking it would take an hour, so when i plugged it in and tried to start it up it now loads up windows witht he usually images, but after it has finihsed loading the screen is balck and i only have the mouse icon, so am wondering if there is another way to sort it out without the DOS what then,

any ideas?


thanks

[ChuckFickens]

Could try safe mode, if your bios has built in USB support the USB drive might work (never tried it to be honest... though on that principle, thinking about it.... a USB drive might work in dos... but doubt it!)

just keep hitting f8 during startup and you should be greated with a menu, select safe mode and see if it works.

[mollymoo]

yep already tried the sfae mode, same thing opens as a balck screen and the mouse cursor.

[ChuckFickens]

OK...... well....

If you have a windows CD you could try a repair install, but they very rarely work in my experience.

the only other options you have really are to..

1) remove the hard drive, put it in a external USB caddy and plug into another computer to rescue your data

2) use the above link for the LINUX CD..... it's not as hard as you might think, it will boot into a operating system not dissimilar to windows and you will be able to drg and drop the files onto the USB drive. (well assuming they are not corrupt)

[mollymoo]

brilliant thanks will give it a go.. thanks appreicate it