Re: About Windows XP Home

For all of you having trouble getting files off the drive, try a linux-based OS boot disk (ubuntu, debian, linuxmint, fedora, etc.) and then go in and manually copy files to an external hard drive; it's free and open source. However, if you are having trouble reinstalling windows, then get/borrow a copy of windows cd by:
a. if it's under warranty, call the manufacturer and ask for one
b. call a friend and borrow one, or
c. buy another copy of windows.
Don't bother looking online. NONE (I mean none) of the cd's online are legit.
And by the way, try Spinrite 6.0 (newest version) from grc.com (only $80) to see if it fixes the bad drive sectors, or something that fixes the drive's file tables. It's worth it, because even if it doesn't solve your problem now, it probably will in the future.
By the way, Windows 7 is out, and it's better than XP. Which means if you're running XP, it's probably time to get a new computer anyway ;)