Boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible

[autogen]

right, i've noticed another thread with the similar problem, here, and apparently it's fixed, but as i'm running my system on a laptop, i'm wondering what i can do to recover my system without any data loss.

error message's more or less the same,
"Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:

1. insert your windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. choose your language settings, and then click next.
3. click repair your computer

if you do not have this disc.........etcetc

status: 0xc000000e

info: the boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible."

i'm running an msi cx420 that's 6 months old, windows 7 32 bit.
this problem only surfaced after i defragged my laptop and updated MSE and restarted. i've absolutely no idea why this happened and would appreciate it tremendously if anyone could help me resolve this problem without any data loss.

to be clear, my laptop isn't of much importance but my data is what i'm worried about.

thanks much.

edit: also, i've tried to burn the windows 7 system repair disc on a USB as follows, but with no luck. i'm running windows xp on this computer and if anyone could also help me on this i'd be much obliged.

 

[roban]

If you have an XP disk and can boot into Recovery Console, run chkdsk /r

There are a couple of ways I backup client's documents, emails, etc.

1. Spotmau
2. Remove hard drive and use an external USB enclosure attached to another computer. This is my preferred method because I can copy and paste and also run chkdsk.

 

[autogen]

If you have an XP disk and can boot into Recovery Console, run chkdsk /r

There are a couple of ways I backup client's documents, emails, etc.

1. Spotmau
2. Remove hard drive and use an external USB enclosure attached to another computer. This is my preferred method because I can copy and paste and also run chkdsk.

i've no recovery disk whatsoever (as such i'm trying to burn one onto my usb thumbdrive).

regarding step 2, are there any kind of precautions i should take to ensure that the data transfer is done safely? also, i doubt it's possible, but is there any way that my user data/account settings could be preserved?

edit: also, i cannot boot into any mode except an OS recovery screen (which i'd guess would wipe my drive clean), so i'm trying to safeguard all my data before i do take that step.

 

[autogen]

sorry for bumping this thread, but does anyone have any advice?

 

[whs]

Recover your data with a live Linux distro - e.g. this one: Computer First Aid Using Knoppix

 

[autogen]

Recover your data with a live Linux distro - e.g. this one: Computer First Aid Using Knoppix

thanks for the link, it appears to be excellent for what i'm planning to do.

last question, is it possible to retain user accounts/settings?

thanks much for the help

 

[whs]

last question, is it possible to retain user accounts/settings?

That will depend on what you do after you saved your data. If e.g. you decide to reinstall, you will have to redo the settings. But that should not be too much of a chore.