There are many free bootable CDs (or DVDs) that can be used to rescue data from a 
PC.  My favorite is KNOPPIX, which has full support for USB devices (e.g., external 
USB 2.0 hard drive), and also comes with CD writing software.

KNOPPIX is a big download, but auto-detects most hardware and is very friendly to 
use.  Its desktop is similar to XPs.

KNOPPIX is available as an ISO file, which you must trasnfer to CD (or DVD) b\using 
a program with an option like burn-from-image.  Do not merely drag&drag an ISO to 
a CD, or it will not boot.

Links to KNOPPIX:

http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Main_Page

Link to a long list od other "live" CDs:

http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php







On Saturday, October 13, 2007 at 8:12 am, Jim wrote:

>My laptop running WinXP home has crashed.  Error is Windows could not start because 

>of missing/corrupt \windows\system32\config\system.  I have tried several repair 

>options found online but none work.  I only have the OEM system restore disk and 

>would like to save the data on the drive.  The question, is there any software that 

>will run from the cd/dvd that will allow me to save data before a new install?  
DOS 

>would be okay also.  

>Any help would be appreciated. 

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