Need some help with reinstalling graphics drivers via C prompt

[JohnClayborn]

Hey all, I need some help please. I'm a graduate student, and as much as I tell people that they need to back up their data, well....I didn't back up my data. I was working on a research project last night when my screen went black. I assumed that it was because I was running off the battery and I missed the low-power warning. I plugged it in and it didn't come back on so I pressed the power to reboot it.

It never rebooted. It got to the Windows Logo and hung there. So, I cycled the power and tried to boot to LKG. No dice. I rebooted again and tried to run startup repair and memory diagnostics; no issues. So, then I tried booting into safe mode. No luck there either. I noticed that it hung at a specific file; amdkmpfd.sys, which Google tells me is the graphics driver.

Now, a simple OSRI should fix the problem, but I have data on there that I don't want to lose. So, it's been a long time, but I seem to remember there being a way that I could copy the .sys file to a flash drive and then use the C: prompt to copy it back to the system directory and reinstall it that way. In theory that should repair the issue, right? Does anyone have any good command prompt resources that might help?

 

[Arc]

What a crap! I hope you did not have the term paper etc stored there in the laptop without having a backup.

amdkmpfd.sys is actually the AMD PCI Root Bus Lower Filter. If the computer does not boot normally and hangs on it. Try to boot it in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/69585-safe-mode.html. Then first back up your data externally, and then plan for a clean reinstall.

But if the computer even does not boot into safe mode, still you try to back the data up at first. Follow this method:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

After backing up all the important data externally, go for the clean reinstall.

 

[JohnClayborn]

Thanks for the heads up, Arc. I think I will just remove the HDD and install a new one with a fresh OSRI and then copy the data files back via a slave cable.

 

[ComputerGeek]

There's a still easier way to save your data when Windows won't boot (and without having to remove the HDD).

Use a friend's PC to download and burn a Knoppix Live CD. Boot your machine from the CD and you'll have a working OS with network, USB and HDD access. Just plug in a USB drive in and copy your data from HDD to USB drive. Voila! You're data's backed up and you can reinstall on the current HDD

 

[Arc]

Thanks for the heads up, Arc. I think I will just remove the HDD and install a new one with a fresh OSRI and then copy the data files back via a slave cable.

You can do it, obviously.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html will give you the same result. Alternate ways are there to achieve a thing. Choose one that you think comfortable.

I will be happy to know that none of your most important data is lost. Whatever the way may be.