[mdlug] Alienware doesn't support boot from CD?

[Robert Jim Fulner]

I certainly cannot easily do so, put in a different CD-ROM drive and see if
the BIOS recognize it. However, that being said, I dont' think this is going
to fix my problem anyway. So maybe I should pick your brains on my real
problem.

We have an older 500 GB external hard disk with several years of back-up
files, photos, music, etc. FYI it is a Maxtor branded device with its own
power source and both USB and Firewire connectoin

Since she got her new comptuer she's been unable to "mount" it via Vista 64
bit. Windoze recognizes that a device has been pluggd in, even that its
Maxtor. But gives a message about needing to download the correct drivers.
Upon contacting the manufacturer they have no 64 bit drivers available and
we should use more common hardware. (Wow, good thing I didn't mention
Linux). Why it needs drivers at all and can't just mount it as a mass
storage deviice I don't understand.

Previously I have had no problem connecting hte same drive to both of my
Linux boxes. After several days of this she decided I should just grab the
files she needed off of the Linux box. However, now when I plug the drive
in, to either USB or Firewire my machine no longer recongizes the device.
I'm guessing theres a better way to troublehoot this than to plug it in and
hope that it shows up in my file manager, but that's what has always worked
before.

Also a few months ago the device started making a lot more noises, usually a
slow ticking noise whenever it was plugged in, but we've never had a problem
with it until recently.

What is going on?  And most importantly how to do I have  my data? Old
backups of my /home directory are not important, but to keep a happy wife I
better find a way to get all of her pictures off of there.
-- 
Jim Fulner
Chair Libertarian Party of Oakland County
PO Box 252762
West Bloomfield, Michigan 48325
715-419-0445 (cell)

http://www.lpocmi.org
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