i've installed ubuntu on my defective hard drive (it can't get past the windows xp loading screen), and i'm trying to back up my 120gb of files, but! i can't take the cd out to back anything up, since ubuntu is running from the cd. i can't fully install the program either, hence my problem. i found a free upload service called ElephantDrive that requires you to download and install an .msi file, but linux by default wouldn't run these. i even downloaded WINE. but to no avail. ideas?

eh, i think i should have put this under 'Linux'.

First thing I would do is stop installing more stuff. If the drive is physically sound and the goal is file recovery, I would put the HD in another XP box as slave. If it's physically broke, not much hope. ===================================== If at first you don't succeed, you're about average. M2

i am able to access all my files under ubuntu, though.

use the cd/dvd burning software that comes with ubuntu (nautilus) and burn your data on CD-R/DVD-R ... or use a usb flash drive. if you want to upload your data to a web based hosting service, try http://documentondemand.de/?xsprach... or http://www.rapidshare.com/ both of them work without any software. if you want to archive multiple files, you may use TAR in ubuntu ... WinRAR can handle tar archives. WINE won't do you much good because you're running ubuntu from CD, so there is no installing software on your drive unless you install ubuntu onto your hard disk Today's subliminal thought is: 'Calm down ... it's only ones and zeros.'

Linux and other OS's lock up the tray. Yes, you might be able to eject it but unless you loaded the Ubuntu to ram at boot (and you need at least a few gig) it will be iffy. There are other Live Cd's that more easily use the toram option. See puppy and dsl and austrumi.. As for what you have you can move off to any other type of remote storage. Use shared windows folders on other machines. Use ftp too. You can use usb drives or even firewire drives and most nas's. You might be able to even use a cd to usb flash on the OS. Boot to the OS from a usb thumb drive and then use your burner for CD's. I read it wrong and answer it wrong too. So get off my case you goober.

mattie, i can't burn anything when the os is running from the cd, otherwise i'd be doing that! i wish. both of those upload sites only allow 100mb per file, when i have 120gb to backup. i don't think that's possible for me. :[ to jefro, i'll look into those other live cd's, but wouldn't they still be running from the cd, not allowing me to use that drive? i have no other computer to connect it to, or any knowledge of doing that. would a live cd run from one of those tiny usb hard drives? if not, i'll probably just be forced to buy an external hard drive. eep, i'm poor.