MAMEWorld Forums - The Loony Bin - Re: Win Ninja Required

> > If you can get into the recovery console, then try running a "chkdsk /r" (type that
> > in without the quotes). That is of course if the PC can locate the drive.
> >
> > You could also try hooking up that hard drive to another computer with a USB hard
> > drive adapter (should be available at most electronics store, or order one online)
> > and see if you can view/copy the contents that way. Otherwise the drive may not be
> > recoverable.
>
>
> Also in the recovery console, if you can get there, type "Fixboot" and "Fixmbr".

Although if he's seeing the Windows XP startup, fixing the MBR isn't going to help. It sounds like it's actually starting the XP boot, then some driver flips out and bluescreens before the OS can fully boot.

I'd be willing to bet the drive would be readable on another system. If that's the case, I'd just image the entire thing with something like Acronis TrueImage, then wipe it clean and reinstall XP from scratch. You can then mount the image as a drive on the fresh system and pull out all of the bits you need.