How to back the files before recovery?

[sonia sandy]

About two days ago, after installing the updates of Norton Internet Security, my computer ( VAIO Model PCVRS710GX with built-in Windows XP) was totally down. The monitor was all in black with the following instructions:
“ Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
WINDOWS/ SYSTEM 32/ CONFIG/SYSTEM”

I know that I can use the built-in recovery wizard to restore my computer to the original, factory installed settings. But I am afraid that my data will be deleted. My questions are: 1) Are all the data in C or D drive?
2) How can I back up the files before using the recovery wizard?

Please educate me. Thanks

 

[PC eye]

That will depend on what D is? With only one hard drive the first and probably only optical drive will be D. The information and files stored for seeing the system restored to factory are safely tucked away and not visible for viewing.

With a second hard drive installed you can boot from a Linux drive tool on cd namely GParted live for seeing the C primary copied to another drive or use a live distro to see files copied over to the second drive. The other option is slaving or simply installing if sata the drive on another system or using an external drive cage for temporary transfer onto another system in temp folders there until you are up and running again.

Many now are looking at external drives as a means of storing files in case of something like this being seen. Have a spare drive already partitioned and formatted onhand? Boot up with a Knoppix or ubuntu live for cd distro and look over an older article for this seen at http://www.shockfamily.net/cedric/knoppix/