How to save data on sick system?

[Thump553]

I have a Win2k/FAT32 system with two hard Maxtor harddrives, an 80 gig and a 40. Something has gone seriously wrong with my Win2k installation-all of a sudden I can't stay in Windows for more than a minute without the computer spontaneously rebooting. I can't even complete the bootup process for the administrator account without the reboot. I've tried the repair function without success and have concluded its time to wipe the slate clean & start over.

Unfortunately, due to some hynotic suggestion (that's my story, at least), I have failed to back in ages. There's some stuff on my C drive I'd really like to keep. There's room on the 40 gig for it, if I can get the system up and running long enough to move it over.

My question is how to do this. Is there a boot floppy or CD program I can run to get my system up long enough to move files? I don't want to truncate filenames unless absolutely necessary.

Alternatively, is there a way to reinstall win2k without reformatting my exisiting C drive first?

And finally, is there a reasonably priced and effective backup system I can install to protect myself from my idiocy in the future?

 

[bernse]

Can you rip the HD out and put it on another PC to pull the files out?

 

[Jerry944T]

Try starting it in "Safe" mode and see if it keeps running. If it does then do your backup and reinstall. Hit F8 during the boot process and choose Safe Mode.
Jerry

 

[resinboy]

if it's a genuine HD failing, try removing the drive, and standing it on its side while trying to access the data: someone here suggested this to me a few months ago, and I got lucky

 

[skyking]

Your problem sounds like some bad ram to me. Go to memtest86.com, and D/L and make a boot floppy. boot into it and test the ram for a few hours.

 

[kursplat]

Go to memtest86.com, and D/L and make a boot floppy. boot into it and test the ram for a few hours

....but unplug the drive that may be failing first. it probably doesn't need the extra w&t if it is dying.
good luck

 

[Thump553]

Here's the situation so far. It appears that the problem was caused by overheating the HD. I took my second HD, wiped it out, repartitioned with two parititions. Into the first partition went the OS, into the second went data I transferred over (originally first) HD. Its stable when there's only one HD in, but with two and heavy HD activity, I get the rebooting problem. Right now I'm only running one HD and its seems stable.

Now I've got to solve my cooling problem, so its off to Cases and Cooling forum, I guess. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[kursplat]

could be the power supply can't handle the load.
good luck

 

[Thump553]

Its an Enermax power supply, 400 watts or larger, can't recall. System has been running for a year and a half before these problems with the only significant change being adding a second hard drive (5400 rpm 40 gig Maxtor) about 1-2 weeks ago.

Unfortunately, after about three hours use last night (with only the 40 gig HD in and the side cover off) it locked again and crashed hard. Its back to the drawing board. This system was never overclocked but has always run warm (51-54 degrees on the cpu) 24/7. My latest theory is a cpu or motherboard failure. Its Muskin memory so that should be ok but will test it tonight.