Vista boot problem...can't even boot to safe mode

[IHAVEAQUESTION]

This is a bit weird but I think it has something to do with the GPU driver file becomes corrupted. This computer has dual monitor setup, which I am not familiar with.

Anyway, I was able to boot to safe mode previously but after I disabled all the starup programs in msconfig, it just gives me blue screen of death during boot. Now I don't even have access to safe mode no more.

I tried the HP recovery partition to repair but to no avail. If I restore to factory condition, will it still keep the photo, video and docs?

I am ready to wipe this thing clean and install W7 instead (still on vista), but I don't want to lose the personal files. Any idea how I can get it to boot again? Even to safe mode would be great help.

 

[WT]

If you have a Vista DVD, you can boot to that and have it run its startup repair tools to get back into Windows. Its always handy to have bootable media of any OS you are working on.

 

[IHAVEAQUESTION]

Actually, I can boot to the HP recovery partition, it has the startup repair tool option. But after running that, it still doesn't boot from the regular partition.

 

[KeithP]

Do you have access to another computer? You could download the Ubuntu Live CD and use that to boot your computer (boot from the CD, don't install Linux). That should let you copy the files you want to save from your hard drive to some other device, external HD, thumb drive, etc.

This link is a little old but details the process:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/wind...backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

-KeithP