ALIM1541.SYS problem, computer wont start!

[erick_p]

Hi,

I've rejuvenated a 3-years old thread here but I think it is also a Windows XP problem (and this forum is more active, I need help urgently!) so am cross-posting here.

I have a Toshiba satellite laptop from 2002 with Windows XP Home. All patched up, latest Windows updates. Zone Alarm, AVG. Clean and no viruses or worms. The CD-ROM was not working. Now, suddenly, it just doesn't start.

The boot process gets stuck at ALIM1541.SYS and neither safe mode not normal mode reboots. As my CD-ROM is not working I have not tried the Recovery Console, but that's lucky because a hardware friend told me that would have wiped out all my data files too.

Google returns some sites for my search, but they are only visible through Google cache ( for e.g., 1: http://snipurl.com/hczb or 2: http://snipurl.com/hczg ). I would sincerely appreciate some ideas, I just need my data back, no worries about Windows etc.

I am even willing to consider options like these:

(1) Buy a new machine and somehow just retrieve data from my current laptop's hard disk. How would I do this?

(2) Or, install Linux on the current laptop (or some other older Windows OS?) and then try to read the hard disk from there, and retrieve important files.

Is any of above possible? Thanks so much in advance!

Panicky,
.ep

[SpywareDr]

Have you tried booting from your XP CD and doing a repair install?

[erick_p]

As I said the CD-ROM is not working. Can I make diskettes from somewhere? Or should I buy an external CD-ROM etc? -- I would need to something like this to install an additional OS anyway, so am game to trying. But my question in that case is, how will Windows recognize it?