Windows 7: When windows not boot, what to use to recover your personals data.

When windows is not booting any more and it is not recoverable, what tools/methods to use to get personal data out, transfer documents, pics etc. to USB stick or hard drive.

One is that get the hard drive out and connect it to another computer etc. boot to WinPe enviroment, then example use xcopy or other cmd commands can be used, but is there any easy to use file transfer tools with gui? Or how to create WinPe with all the tools needed for this kind of operation.



Any suggestions/ideas of ready made boot cds or tools?

If you have a External HD, you could copy & paste your data.
Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

System Repair Disc - Create

The method posted above by theog to copy out data using the Install DVD/Repair CD's Load Drivers mini-explorer will also work to copy data to CD/DVD, I believe.

If you made an "Image Backup" of your drive with Windows or a 3rd Party Disk Backup Utility you just need to boot the "Rescue/Recover" disc and follow the instructions to completely recover your system.

Sounds so simplistic but so many people never make image backups.
Good Luck with it