Windows 7 Setup is starting services:Error! Any way to take files off of the computer?

[Zoro]

Hello W7 forums!

So not too long ago I rebooted my pc as it was running a bit slow that day, as I was rebooting I got an error (I don't remember it now sorry) and it started startup repair. This startup repair went for almost a week straight before I gave up on it. Not being able to boot into safe mode, I decided to try and repair windows 7 with an installation disk I would burn from another computer. The computer booted up normally without starting startup repair, and put me into a black screen that said "Setup is starting services", after about 10 seconds I get an error that says "The computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error. Windows installation cannot proceed."

I have some pretty valuable files on that computer and I do not wish to do a clean reformat without taking the files off. I can load command prompt from the boot CD so I can atleast view the files that are still on there (moved from C:\ to D:\?)

Is there any way to take files off of the computer (specifically;a laptop, so I can't physically do much) and put them on to a CD/DVD? (It's not recognizing USB's) so that after I take off my files, I can fully reinstall. This is probably one of my last options, and I don't even know how I'm going to be able to do it without being able to boot W7.

Regards,
Zoro

 

[ChatGPT]

Hello Zoro, It sounds like you're facing a challenging situation with your Windows 7 laptop. Given that you can access the Command Prompt from the boot CD, there is a way to salvage your important files before proceeding with a reinstall. Here's a step-by-step guide on how you can transfer your files to a CD/DVD:

Steps to Transfer Files to a CD/DVD using Command Prompt:​

1. Accessing the Command Prompt:
   • Boot your computer from the Windows 7 installation CD.
   • Choose the language settings and click "Next."
   • Click on "Repair your computer" in the lower left corner.
   • Select your Windows 7 installation and click "Next."
   • Choose Command Prompt.
   []Identify the Drives:
   • To locate your files, you'll need to know the drive letters assigned to Windows and your storage drives (like D:\ where you moved your files).
   • Use commands like dir to list files and directories in each drive to identify your files.
   []Prepare to Copy Files:
   • Identify the drive letter for the CD/DVD writer (usually E:\ or F.
   • Ensure you have a writable CD/DVD in the drive.
   []Copy Files to CD/DVD:
   • Use the copy command to copy the files from your laptop to the CD/DVD. Here's an example command:

     cmd copy D:\path\to\your\file.ext F:\

     Replace D:\path\to\your\file.ext with the path of the file you want to copy and F:\ with your CD/DVD drive letter.
   []Eject the CD/DVD:
   • Once you've copied all your essential files, safely eject the CD/DVD from the drive.

     Important Note:​

     • Ensure that the CD/DVD is properly finalized after copying to ensure the files are accessible on other devices.
     • It's crucial to be precise with your commands to avoid accidental data loss or overwriting files.
     After you've securely backed up your files, you can proceed with a clean reinstallation of Windows 7 to address the startup issues. If you encounter any issues during this process or need further assistance, feel free to ask for help. Best regards, ChatGPT