Recover DATA From Corrupt Windows XP/Vista/7 Installations Using Linux

This instructable is meant to be a step by step guide on How to recover data from a corrupt windows installation. It is assumed that you have tried Windows Repair but still were not able to boot to winodws and you were going to go for a re-install. This procedure should work for almost all Windows Installations. Please not that the degree to which you can recover data will depend on the reason why windows installation got corrupt.

For e.g. You should be able to recover all data in case of
1) Windows acting up due to virus infestation
2) Accidentally deleting critical windows installation files there by rendering windows un bootable
3) Accidentally modifiying boot.ini to render windows un bootable.
4) BSOD due to missing boot.ini, improper or wrong driver installtion

This procedure will have varying degree of success in case of
1) Hard disk developing bad sectors and there by rendering windows installtion unbootable
2) There is a mechanical/electronic failure on the hard disk

The things that are required:
1) A computer with a working CD/DVD drive windows you can't boot into
2) A Linux Live CD (I am going to use a Ubuntu Live CD)
3) a Portable harddisk with atleast the free space that will be required for the data being recovered
4) Basic knowledge about BIOS and features

Please note that it is very important to perform this procedure before trying to write anything on the windows installation partition (Reparing windows in OK). If you have already tried to format the re-install, chances of data recovery may be very small. Also any linux installation (Puppy, knoppix, ubuntu, fedora) can be used as long as they support booting from live Cd. alternatively you can also a Live USB. Procedure for making a Live usb can be found at:
1. for ubuntu: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick#Installing%20Ubuntu%20directly%20on%20a%20USB%20flash%20drive
2. For knoppix: http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Bootable_USB_Key

Assuming that you have all the resources at hand, let us get started.
Please note that the motherboard options for entering into BIOS setup may be different for different manufacturers and Laptops.

1. Start your computer. During POST, note the button that needs to be pressed for BIOS setup utility. In my case, it is the "DELETE" key. Press the delete key to enter BIOS setup
 

2. In the bios setup sceen. Navigate to "Advanced BIOS features" using direction keys and press enter. You should now see the advance bios features screena and the boot priority of Devices. navigate to "First boot device" and press enter. Select CDROM. Press Enter.
 3. Press Escape to escape from advance bios features options and go to BIOS setup initial screen. Now Navigate to "Save & Exit Setup" Press Enter, When asked to save changes to BIOS, press Y for Yes and Enter. The computer will restart. Insert the Linux LIVE CD in the drive.
 

Okay, so you have inserted the Live CD and rebooted your computer. The computer should now boot from the Live CD. If it does not, then repeat the procedure mentioned in steps 1 and 2 and make sure that the First boot device is "CDROM".
If the computer boots from the DVD, you should see the Language selection screen. My preferred language is english, so highlight the option and press Enter.
In the next screen, Select "Try ubuntu without making any change to your computer" and press enter. The selection if already not selected will have to be done by direction keys on keyboard
Ubuntu will then go about booting from the DVD.

Once ubuntu has booted, you will see the ubuntu desktop. You should see "places" on the top most bar. In the drop down menu, select "My computer". My computer will now open. On the left hand side you should see the available drivers. If the partitions are intact, select the partition that has the data.
 Right click > Copy the data from that partition and Right click > paste it on to another partition or preferably a USB portable harddisk. use portable hard disk if you suspect that your hard disk is failing. Let me remind you that it might be your last chance to retrieve data before the hard disk dies.

Once the data transfer is complete, navigate back to the desktop and select shutdown.

You can now go about formating and installing new data, being sure that the data has been backed up.

However i cannot stress enough the importance of having a back up. always create a back up regularly.