Help with crashed Operating System

[Falcon Ways]

Hi. I am running Windows XP Home edition, and recently downloaded a service patch from the "Critical Update" section of the Microsoft website. Whilst installing the patch, i had a power cut.

Since then, because the patch had not finished installing, i cannot start my computer. Windows XP starts to load, then the computer re-starts and the loop continues.

I have no problem running the "Recover" CD that came with the computer, which will restore it to the same state it was in when it left the factory, but i have some files that i really cannot lose.

My question is, does anyone know of a way to keep these files. I don't care if i have to re-build the computer, just as long as i can save the files.

Thanks

 

[pr24]

If your files are very important to you, remove the hard drive from your computer and install it in another computer. Make copies of your files there and move the hard drive back to original location.
I've done this a couple of times myself, with no problems. If you have access to a PC with two hard drives, just disconnect the secondery drive, and connect your own. Should work without doing any configurations, as long as your hard drive is a pretty standard one.
I would have done this first off all, before anything happens and your files are gone...

Good Luck!

 

[Falcon Ways]

Thanks pr24, i will try that. Before i do though, i have two questions.

1. my crashed drive is partitioned. Should this cause a problem?
2. I have been told that the Service Patch would have tried to write registry entries, and because it crashed half way through, the root of the c:\ drive would be damaged. Will this make a difference?

I guess the best way is to try it and see, but thought it might be worth a mention.

 

[pr24]

I'm not sure about the partition stuff, and the root problem of C: sounds strange, but I would give it a try. Cant think of anything that might make the situation worse, though...

 

[bcastner]

I personally would repair the registry:

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm