Hi My computer is not starting up normaly and I cannot find a way to go about it. I have down loadet Damn Small Linux because I have heard there is a way to retrieve data from the hard drive, but I cannot figure out how. DSL runs readily in RAM from live CD. I have some text documents in "my documents" that I really !!! ned to not get lost. Do you think there is any hope?

Hi..Try 1. Does the computer Boot in Safe Mode?.. If so, do so and copy you files to a Flash Disc or Create a new directory in the C:\drive. Then you can safley re install windows and know that your files are safe. Be sure not to format the hard drive. You can either Reinstall or repair the windows. Unfortunatly the MyDocuments folder is the worst place to put files in as the folder gets replaced when you reinstall windows. Or you can take your drive out of the pc and plug it into someone elses computer... They then can remove all your files from you HD. Hope this helps.

Thank you for replying :-) I cannot make it boot in any safe mode unfortunately. When I choos any of the safe modes the screen flickers a bit and return to the "F12-menu". It is a laptop can the drive still be taken out?

I haven't use damn small linux but I have used Knoppix, which is a live version of Linux. Download and burn to CD and boot to it. Should be able to recover your files. Get Knoppix at the link below. Third Knoppix from the bottom of the page, 696MB. http://www.kernel.org/pub/dist/knop...

ok..Boot the computer with the original windows cd. then when you get to the options, select repair. You should be in a black screen run a chkdsk by typing chkdsk c:/ f it may repair the problem. If not..do the above again except choose NOT to repair the first time it comes up and select to install. A repair option will come up again..This time select repair. It will fix the windows back to default, You will have to do all updates again and any update you did..BUT it will boot normally and Mydocuments will be ok as it does not reinstall fully...Hope this helps. If you are able to get a Linux Live CD as suggested above, it would be good..but if you cannot then try my ideas. I have done that many times before.. Also..If you are competent enough to remove your hard drive and put it in another computer, that is the only other way of getting your files before doing a complete ne reinsta.. Good Luck..ok

This is really horrible, I don't really know what I'm doing, just typing in comands hoping that I do them correctly and not causing any further damage. :(

Then try Knoppix. No commands needed.