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Resurrecting Windows XP Zombie Laptop

Victor · 2021-07-20 15:42:28

I want to check an old laptop for a specific file. It probably hasn't been turned on for 4-5 years, so it was out of battery and the clock is 'confused'. It is giving me the message "Error loading operating system". No CD drive, but it has USB posts. Any ideas as to how I might get as far as the desktop?

20-07-2021 3:42pm

#1

Victor

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,580 ✭✭✭✭

Join Date: December 2000

Posts: 68941

I want to check an old laptop for a specific file. It probably hasn't been turned on for 4-5 years, so it was out of battery and the clock is 'confused'.
It is giving me the message "Error loading operating system". No CD drive, but it has USB posts.
Any ideas as to how I might get as far as the desktop?

0

Comments

#2 20-07-2021 3:57pm

BrianD3

Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,513 ✭✭✭

Join Date: October 2002

Posts: 7973

Check BIOS setup to see if laptop can be booted from a USB. If so, make a Linux live USB or a Hirens boot USB using a different PC. Boot the laptop from the USB, if the hard drive is still working you can then get the files from it
https://www.hirensbootcd.org/usb-booting/

2