Basically i'm trying to copy over some files from a friends laptop hard drive using a 2.5 to IDE cable (I did have an adaptor but as it was made in china that lasted minutes). The bios detects it but Windows 98se doesn't (although according to the device manager there is a h/d other than my primary drive present).

I have explored other avenues but as the laptops XP installation is password protected (with this helpfully forgotten) i'm at a loss. The computer reboots everytime I try to load XP in safe mode. Linux live lets me in but won't allow me to transfer between hard drives.

I know the above already contains a variety of problems but i'd like to add one more in the proverbial mix. I've only got a CD burner (as I find compressing and archiving more cost effective) but would the laptops DVD writer also work with the cable (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=28724&criteria=Ide%20laptop&doy=9m9) as there's GIGs to burn.

The bios detects it but Windows 98se doesn't (although according to the device manager there is a h/d other than my primary drive present).

W98 requires drivers for USB storage devices...have you loaded the drivers for it?

W98 requires drivers for USB storage devices...have you loaded the drivers for it?

No but i'm not using the USB ports. The laptop drive is connected through the secondary IDE controller.

I don't think Windows 98 will see the hard drive if it is NTFS.... What kind of password issues are you experiencing. Have read this (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421).

That is correct...if it is NTFS then 9x won't 'see' it.

I had thought that you were using a USB adapter...but I guess I got confused.

There used to be a good, free (read only) NTFS driver for Win9x/DOS but since key members of the Sysinternals team where hired by M$, it seems to have disappeared...

Linux live lets me in but won't allow me to transfer between hard drives.Which utility specifically is this and have you tried Knoppix (link in my sig) to back-up either to CD/DVD or to a USB (flash or external HDD) drive.

What specific errors/messages is Linux live giving you?

Knoppix can read and write to NTFS these days - it might not be fully supported just yet but I have yet to have problems with it.

Password protected Windows might not be too hard to overcome as long as there is no underlying encryption. If files can be copied to a FAT partition they would lose such security attributes and it might also be possible if you could log on as Administrator or if there was enought room to do a parallel installation and then to "take ownership" (as per ClassicS's link) of the needed files.

A Win98 system is not really ideal by any means for such recovery work.

would the laptops DVD writer also work with the cable as there's GIGs to burnSuch a good question and I cant find a definitive answer or find any specific specifications for the slim line optical's interface. I suspect that since they are nearly all ATAPI (occasionally SATA) devices that it should correspond to the 44pin 2.5" hard drive interface. The only real problem is whether the supply voltage is going to be correct to the four power pins (out of the forty four on the normal block). There are incidentally ultra slim 2.5" hard drives that use a different voltage so there's no guarantee, without seeing the specs, that an optical would mirror the interface of a normal 2.5" hard drive.

At the moment I can only think that it should be OK (particularly since I think that such drives are also used on small form factor bare bones systems) and wish I could be 100% sure. Master-Slave jumpering may also not be obvious on how to set up.

The problem with Knoppix burning to DVD is that you would need two optical drives attached simultaneously; one for itself and one for the burning. Perhaps its time for a nice external DVD burner or other large capacity storage device, since they have all come down so much in price.

I don't think Windows 98 will see the hard drive if it is NTFS.... What kind of password issues are you experiencing. Have read this (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421).

Win98 sees my standard NTFS h/d fine (although it's a lil' slow in accessing it). I did already attempt taking over the folder as described for XP home with no success, although as the laptop has media centre on it (the guy wanted to stream movies to his 360 for some reason), does that mean i'd also have to follow the instructions from the link as per XP professional?

What specific errors/messages is Linux live giving you?

It is Knoppix i'm using but I can't tell you the actual error message because it isn't readable; my graphics card has a s-video output and the background does display on the flatscreen but everything else is displayed by the TV, which is PAL, hence everything looks poor making it almost impossible to make anything out.

That's one of the main reasons I gave up and dug out an old hard drive with 98 installed. Although reading your second post I will try just a dvd drive, cd burner attached with the laptop drive. Will report back later providing my eyes are still working.

Win98 sees my standard NTFS h/d fineSeeing the HDD is one thing but seeing the various partitions on it is another. It is incorrect to refer to the drive as being an NTFS drive. A HDD can contain many differently formatted partitions including FAT and NTFS. NTFS partitions will be "invisible" to Native Win9X or DOS.

We obviously crossposted. Try F3 at boot-up of Knoppix to see other options you can enter at the boot prompt. eg:
knoppix screen=1280x1024 depth=24
knoppix vga=normal
etc...

Other "cheat codes"
http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Cheat_Codes

Seeing the HDD is one thing but seeing the various partitions on it is another. It is incorrect to refer to the drive as being an NTFS drive. A HDD can contain many differently formatted partitions including FAT and NTFS. NTFS partitions will be "invisible" to Native Win9X or DOS.

I did realise that, its just not a second to louse mechanic talk lets me down in the world of computers. I'm pretty sure the drive in question is NTFS partitioned. My old drive (same make & model) was FAT but when that developed bad sectors I got a new one under warrenty, upgrading it to XP.

More to the point though, I did boot sucessfully via alternative load options, although those codes would have come in handy and saved me some typing. Also the CD/DVD drive solution worked well, allowing me to burn not always at full speed, but with few write errors. Thanks for all your help Paul, classicsoftware & mjc.