Linux ROCKS!

Many know what kind of problems I have been having with my computer since I got it back from the technicians. The latest is my slave drive. For the last few weeks I have been trying, without luck, to recover my files from it. Every time I would boot the computer up with both master and slave installed, it would say error loading OS. I was running Windows XP on the master, with no OS on the slave. I tried switching jumper pins, moving the slave drive into an external usb enclosure, a boot manager, everything I, and several others, could think of. I even downloaded a trial version of a program called Getdataback, which could actually see the files. The only problem with the recovery program was cost. In order to move those files I had to buy an $80 license key, which I was loathe to do. So a friend of mine suggested trying a Linux live cd. He suggested Linux Mint, which he uses at his cafe. (thank you Anton!) IT WORKED! Not only could I see the files, but I could also transfer them to a flash drive, and it didn't cost a single cent! Why didn't I just burn them directly off the drive using Linux you ask? Quite simple, I only have 1 dvdburner, and the Linux Live cd was in it. I'm still not sure what exactly happened to the drive, and right now I don't particularly care anymore. I only have to get my music off the slave drive yet, everything else has already been moved. Then I will format it. (if it will let me)