Windows won't load! Please help!

Since you are traveling we can assume you have a laptop, can you give us all the system specs you can?
You should have a partition with a re-install capabilities, but won't do much good until we get it running again.

There are several ways to go with this, follow Golden's steps, that's the best one to start with.

If you get to a point where you need to save your data, consider buying an external hard drive.
There are stand alone programs, run from CD or USB stick, that can backup your HDD before you risk loosing anything.

Macrium Reflect free version
The Windows PE 3 Rescue Media function is excellent for this.

Golden's suggesstion is golden but involves a fairly large download.

If you are not well placed to do such a large download you may consider this alternate option of creating a Lucid Puppy Linux disk and try to access the hard disk where you will only be downloading a ~980KB Universal USB installer and a ~120KB Puppy Linux.
Lucid Puppy way to recover files from a non-bootable computer

You will need a pendrive and an external drive to store the retreived data.

EDIT: You need not even lock a pendrive for Puppy Linux. You can straight away burn the ISO to a CD which may be easily available in any nearby stationery shop for less than Rs.20. Even some petty shops/grocery shops around sell them.

Hi Dave thanks for the help.

Here are some quick specs from the top of my head...

Lenovo IdeaPad Z Series
i3 dual core
750gb HDD
Windows Home Premium
8gb DDR3 Ram


Yeah luckily I still have access to a machine, my girlfriends notebook. My laptop is the machine with the faulty OS!

I honestly think the HDD doesn't have a partition on it, as I thought it was a bit odd when I purchashed the machine.

There are several ways to go with this, follow Golden's steps, that's the best one to start with

.
I'm not sure what this means, does you mean the other kind guy trying to help me?

I think I might be at the 'save my data' stage now! Luckily I have an external HDD, but can I move files onto it without access to Windows?!

Thanks very much Dave!

Golden posted a method to get a install disc.
jumanji has a good point, your download speed is probably pretty slow, D/L'ing a full install version may take several hours.

Yes, you can save your files without Windows running.
Good that you have an external HDD.
You can make an image backup with Macrium Reflect - Windows PE 3 Rescue Media or D/L Lucid Puppy Linux and copy your files.
Both will be running from a CD or USB stick, Windows OS not needed.

I completely agree - 1st port of call is to back your data up using the Linux distribution suggested :)

Stuart, Yes - it must be a 4GB USB for the Windows install. Just a standard 4GB USB will do. The USB will be completely formatted during the ISO installation, so do not use the one you are going to backup data too - use a completely seperate USB flash drive for the ISO install.

The advantage of using Macrium Reflect - Windows PE 3 Rescue Media or D/L Lucid Puppy Linux is they will fit on a smaller USB stick.

Macrium Reflect is 30MB and Lucid Puppy Linux is 1.1MB.

Macrium will need to be installed on a computer then the Win PE can be loaded to the USB stick and it is pretty small, don't have the exact size.

OK so if I download Lucid Puppy Linux, stick that on a USB stick and load it up, I should be able to save some of my files over to my external USB HDD (hopefully!)

But will I still need to d/l the 2.4GB .iso file that Golden recommended to get Windows back up and running again?

Windows 7 Download - you want the file shown as English x86: X17-58996.iso
http://www.mydigitallife.info/offici...digital-river/

Can't help you guys enough, I hope you have enough patenice to see through my lack of knowledge!
Cheers.

Hi Stuart,

Yes, and yes to both questions.

No worries, just post back here with anything at all and we'll guide you through things :)

Regards,
Golden

Stuart,

By the way, after you have downloaded Puppy Linux, you need to use this tool to transfer it to, and make, that USB bootable:

Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3 | USB Pen Drive Linux

Post back if you need more help.

Regards,
Golden