Can't Boot to Windows?
Here's something that can help.

Many of us have had this happen at least once: You turn on your computer, only to find that you can no longer access your Windows® operating system. You are unable to boot to the last known successful boot, and you can't boot in "Safe Mode." So what do you do? Call technical support? Technical support is not always what it is cracked up to be. Even if you have a brand-name system like Dell or Gateway, there tend to be problems with getting technical support on the line and really getting the help that you are seeking.

Recently, when dealing with this issue firsthand, I had to call the tech support division of a major computer manufacturer, and was told that they could not walk me through the process of retrieving my files, because if I were to lose any files during the process, I could hold them liable. The short version: You are on your own!

What to do? The first thing you should do is try to boot to DOS using a floppy drive or CD-ROM, using a bootable disk or CD. If this works, see if you can see the files on your hard drive in DOS by going to the C:\> prompt and typing C: and then Enter. Check the directory by typing dir and then Enter (this will show you a list of directories on your computer). To locate your files, depending on what version of Windows you have, you will need to try one or more of the following methods.

You should be looking for a directory called My Documents or Desktop, which is where you would usually store your files. You access those directories by repeating the steps above until you actually see you files in the directory list. These would be the files you may or may not want to save.

Note A: Depending on the version of DOS you have, DOS does not recognize long file names, so your file names will be shorter and end with a tilde (~) and a number. For example, if your original file name in Windows was Richard Letter, the new file name in DOS would be Richar~1.

Note B: I realize that unless you are familiar with DOS, this may not make any sense to you at all, but if you have just a little familiarity with DOS and are not shy about trying this, you could walk yourself through it. Otherwise, call on someone you know who is familiar with DOS.

If you can see your files, then you can retrieve them. After searching the Internet (because I am a strong believer in "where there's a will, there's a way," and my will is not to pay for something I may be able to do myself), I found a solution.

As long as you can boot your system using a DOS diskette and the hard drive is readable from DOS, you can save your important files, using a program called FastLynx™ from Sewell Direct (http://www.sewelld.com/WindowsWontBoot.asp). This program allows you to retrieve your files by connecting your crashed system to a computer successfully running a Windows operating system. You will find that their Web site provides plenty of information and scenarios to help you figure out the best way to retrieve your files.

There is one catch: You must have access to another computer that is running the Windows operating system. The two systems should be connected to each other via a cable and the FastLynx software installed on the working system first. You will then have to copy a file called a “DOS slave program” to the non-working system. This will allow you to be able to see both computer hard drive files on a split screen on the working computer. Then you will be able to drag and drop all of the files from your non-working system to the working system.

Depending on your situation, choosing the right cable is very important. Figure 1 below shows a table that outlines your possible situation and its likely solution. Please note that there are other scenarios, and if you contact the technical support desk at Sewell Direct, they'll be glad to walk you through the best solution for your particular situation.

Figure 1

When all is said and done, a system crash is never something you are quite prepared for, but a loss of all of your files is even worse. I hope that if you ever find yourself in this situation, you will give FastLynx a try before you spend a lot of money and time trying to get help for tech support, or taking your computer to a computer store. Your best defense is to back up your files (to CD disk, flash drive…whatever works for you) on a regular basis. I recommend doing it daily if you work on files that are crucial in your business/personal life.

You’ll be glad that you did.