NTFS file system (XP) notebook HD rescue (note: needs a system with a floppy drive; files etc refer to a 98/ME host system);
-find a 2.5" to 3.5" IDE adapter, and connect the HD to be rescued to the secondary IDE channel;
-verify that the BIOS recognises the drive;
-check from the machine's internal Setup a.k.a. "BIOS setup" that your floppy drive is actually set bootable;
-make a bootable MS-DOS diskette;
-visit
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/NtfsDos.html and download the NTFSDOS package. After unzipping, copy the NTFSDOS.EXE file onto the diskette;
(-preferably, also copy the files XCOPY.EXE XCOPY32.EXE XCOPY32.MOD onto the diskette from c: \windows\command)
-boot with the diskette;
-run NTFSDOS at the prompt;
-the NTFS disk partition(s) will mount, hopefully;
-make a rescue directory on your C:
-enter
xcopy [your mounted NTFS drive]: c: \your_choice /s/e
The xcopy process will most likely be interrupted at some stage, if your HD is bad. The file names will contain wiggly lines (~). Good luck!