Solved: Can't Start Vista, Even in Safe Mode

When I booted up my laptop this morning, Windows asked me to install some routine maintenance work/driver updates. Since it does this all the time, I clicked 'yes,' thinking that nothing could go wrong. However, five minutes later, when I was trying to defrag the computer, it froze and then refused to start up again. I let it run the Startup Repair test, and it told me there was no way to fix the issue. Then I tried every other option I could think of, including the Windows memory diagnostics tool (it's not an issue with that) and booting up in Safe Mode (it won't; it begins to load windows files, but then just takes me back to the Startup Repair test and runs it ad nauseum).

Now, normally I would just restore it to the last known working configuration. Trouble is, I installed Skyrim a few days ago and really, really, really don't want to lose my save file. This would be a non-issue if I could just get it to work in Safe Mode, grab my save file out of the Steam folder, and then restore it to the last known working configuration. Does anyone know of a possible solution? I would be jubilant if someone could help me out here...

(As I kinda hinted above, I think the problem is either with the drivers that were just installed or using Piriform Defraggler to defrag the hard drive. Could either one of those be a legit problem? I'm not very knowledgeable about fixing computers, especially when I can't even get to the desktop, so maybe that's not it at all...)

 

To backup your files from a non-booting Windows, do the following:

Go here to download Ubuntu 10.04 ( There is a newer version, but I am going by my existing setup, so follow along and choose 10.04 ) http://www.ubuntu.com/download/ubuntu/download Save the iso file.

Then download ImgBurn from here: http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download

Install ImgBurn and run it.

Choose "Write Image to Disc"

At the top of the Imgburn window, where it says "Source" click on the folder with maginfying glass icon; Then navigate to where you saved the ISO file.

Then click on the bottom area of the window depicting hd write to CD.

That should create the CD.

Now you want to boot with the CD on your PC. Check your BIOS so that it chooses to boot using the CD first. You are looking for the Boot menu, boot priority, or something along that line.

Once you boot into Ubuntu, pull down the Places pull down menu. Choose the ## GB Filesystem. That would be your hard drive. You will be able to see all folders in your drive. Now copy off the files you want to a USB memory stick.

 

Lunarlander, you are a beautiful human being. Thank you.