Member Avatar for carlanda21

Just woundering if any one can help. I have a HP pavillion 544a home computer, on start up it says that last time computer was on it wasnt shut down then gives you options on how i want it started. I have tried all modes even tried to start it on last good known start up mode but soon as the windows loading screen comes up this is where it stays. All we want is some pics of my wifes father (deceased) off of there if anyone has suggestions that would be great. thank you.

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Brief summary and priority: the immediate goal is to get the pictures off the machine without doing anything that might overwrite or damage the disk. has already tried Safe Mode and it freezes; that means the Windows installation is unreliable right now, so avoid running repairs that write to the drive until the photos are copied.

A low-risk first approach is to boot the PC from a Linux "Live" USB or CD (no install). On another computer download a live distro and write it to a USB stick, boot the HP into the live session (choose "Try" rather than install), then use the file manager to mount the Windows partition and copy the photos to an external USB drive. Typical photo locations to check are C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents\My Pictures (XP) or C:\Users\<username>\Pictures (Vista/7), and search for common extensions like .jpg, .jpeg, .png. Mount the Windows volume read-only if the option is available to avoid accidental writes.

If the Live-USB method fails or the USB/CD won't boot, the next option is the hardware route that mentioned: remove the hard drive and access it from another machine. Use a SATA/IDE-to-USB adapter, external enclosure, or fit the drive as a secondary drive in a working desktop. Power off, discharge static, and handle the drive carefully. Note the connector style (flat ribbon = PATA/IDE, thin cable = SATA) before buying an adapter. If the drive makes unusual noises (repeated clicking) or is not detected in the BIOS/another PC, stop — that suggests mechanical failure and professional recovery is the safer choice.

Quick checklist: prepare an external drive with enough space; create a Live-USB on a working PC; boot and copy user folders first; avoid running chkdsk or Windows repair utilities until photos are secured; cleaning dust/fans as suggested is fine for overheating concerns, but prioritize data extraction. If unsure at any step, a local data-recovery service will prevent accidental loss.

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Member Avatar for zeroth

you say you tried all options...did you choose safe mode? That should allow you to manipulate the machine but it will come up with very large fonts and look "wrong". However, go ahead and work with the files in this mode.

If safe mode won't work, you can always take the hard drive out and put it in another desktop as a secondary drive and use it normally.

Member Avatar for carlanda21

yeah tried safe mode with and without prompts it loads one page and tries to load a second but freezes. thanks for the advice

Member Avatar for caperjack

yeah tried safe mode with and without prompts it loads one page and tries to load a second but freezes. thanks for the advice

maybe overheating ,open the case and vacuum or blow out all dustbunnies ,making sure fans are free of dirt/dust.

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