triz-docs/docs/database-operations/dead-pc-recovery/windows-dead.md

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3	Part B — Windows Does Not Boot

Part B — Windows Does Not Boot (Linux Live USB)

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If the client's PC will not boot into Windows, you will use a Linux live environment to access the hard drive and copy the database files.

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B1 — Boot from the Linux Live USB

1. Insert your bootable Ubuntu USB into the dead PC.
2. Power on the PC and enter the Boot Menu (usually F8, F11, or F12 — varies by manufacturer).
3. Select your USB drive from the boot menu.
4. When Ubuntu loads, choose "Try Ubuntu" (do not install).

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B2 — Mount the Windows Drive

Ubuntu may mount the Windows drive automatically. If not:

1. Open the Files application (file manager). The Windows drive should appear in the left sidebar — click it to mount it.
2. If it doesn't appear, open a Terminal and run:

# List all available drives and partitions
sudo fdisk -l

Look for a partition of type NTFS with the size matching the client's main drive (e.g., /dev/sda3). Then mount it:

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/windows
sudo mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sda3 /mnt/windows

Replace /dev/sda3 with the correct partition name from fdisk -l.

3. Verify the drive is mounted:

ls /mnt/windows

You should see the familiar Windows folders: Users, Program Files, Windows, etc.

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B3 — Mount the USB Drive

1. Plug in your USB drive. Ubuntu will mount it automatically under /media/ubuntu/.
2. Find the exact mount point:

ls /media/ubuntu/

Note the folder name (it will be the USB drive label, e.g., SUPPORT_USB). Your full USB path will be something like /media/ubuntu/SUPPORT_USB.

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B4 — SQL Server: Copy Files from the Dead Drive

Navigate to the SQL Server data directory and copy the files:

# Adjust the MSSQL version folder (MSSQL14=2017, MSSQL15=2019, MSSQL16=2022)
ls "/mnt/windows/Program Files/Microsoft SQL Server/MSSQL15.MSSQLSERVER/MSSQL/DATA/"

You will see all .mdf, .ndf, and .ldf files listed. Copy the client's database files to the USB:

# Create a folder on the USB for organization
mkdir -p /media/ubuntu/SUPPORT_USB/SQLServer_Recovery

# Copy the target database files (replace ClientDB with the actual name)
sudo cp "/mnt/windows/Program Files/Microsoft SQL Server/MSSQL15.MSSQLSERVER/MSSQL/DATA/ClientDB.mdf" \ /media/ubuntu/SUPPORT_USB/SQLServer_Recovery/

sudo cp "/mnt/windows/Program Files/Microsoft SQL Server/MSSQL15.MSSQLSERVER/MSSQL/DATA/ClientDB_log.ldf" \ /media/ubuntu/SUPPORT_USB/SQLServer_Recovery/

# If a secondary file exists, copy it too
sudo cp "/mnt/windows/Program Files/Microsoft SQL Server/MSSQL15.MSSQLSERVER/MSSQL/DATA/ClientDB.ndf" \ /media/ubuntu/SUPPORT_USB/SQLServer_Recovery/ 2>/dev/null || true

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B5 — PostgreSQL: Copy Files from the Dead Drive

# Create a folder on the USB
mkdir -p /media/ubuntu/SUPPORT_USB/PostgreSQL_Recovery

# Copy the entire data directory (adjust version number as needed)
sudo cp -r "/mnt/windows/Program Files/PostgreSQL/15/data" \
           /media/ubuntu/SUPPORT_USB/PostgreSQL_Recovery/