If I boot up using the XP reinstall CD, will I have access to my files? Is it even possible to do this?

I’m looking everywhere online for a solution to this and can’t get a straight answers, just boot cd suggestions. I fear my laptop has some sort of virus in the boot sector and I want to recover my files before reinstalling. I can’t even start in safe mode.
dewcoons, what do you mean when you say “go past the F8″ screen? The only choice I’m getting is to hit F8. Do I do this?

The XP install CD does give you limited access to the drive through the Recovery Console. But it is not designed to allow you to back up files through it. It does not load a CD or USB driver, so you would not be able to access any of those drives to back up the files.

You can try a “restore” of the XP operating system. Boot from the CD and go past the initial point where you can press “R” for the recovery console. Continue past where you press the F8 to agree to the license.

You will then get the option to press “R” to restore your current Windows install. This is will reinstall ONLY the system files for Windows itself. It will NOT delete your data, uninstall your programs or wipe your hard drive. (Unfortunately this may include not wiping the virus). But often such a reinstall will allow you to get into the drive so you can at least backup your files. It many cases it WILL defeat the virus and make the computer usable again.

Another alternative is to pull the hard drive out of your current computer and install it has a secondary drive in another computer. Since it will not be “booting” from that drive, a boot sector virus would not be able to run. You can then access the drive as a “secondary drive” and copy off your data.