help, need to get files from hard drive...

[Supra_KL]

well, heres the situation...

I was installing sp1 for vista and it failed, so when I tried to reboot my laptop, vista would not properly load and give me the message: service pack did not load correctly, reverting to previous state or something like that. well i left my laptop on for 30 mins and nothing happened. tried safe mode, repairing with the vista dvd and tried going into command prompt. always get the same thing.

so I am trying to figure out how i can get some of my school work off from the HD. its a SATA HD with an unbootable vista..i am on another computer w/sata but no sata cables :(

thinking of booting something from dvd or usb so i can get to the files and transfer/email them.

help anyone?

[shrugs*]

There're bootable versions of knoppix, phlak, ubunut and fedora linux that're pretty easy to navigate with the GUI. Boot via CD/DVD and copy your data to a USB drive.

I'd suggest getting the cables anyway, they're always handy to have around.

[12th hour]

Here is what I would do. Go get yourself an enclosure for that hd or better yet, get your self a sata/ide to usb2.0 adapter. http://images.tigerdirect.ca/SkuImages/gallery/large/V13-1113-x.JPG Connect it to an open usb port on another computer and it should reconise another hd if your hd is functioning. If you know where the files are located on that hd, its a piece of cake. I would then burn it to a dvd, or move it to a large flashdrive or you could email it, which might be time consuming.