OS (Windows XP) Crash

[bfadewole]

My laptop's Operating System, which I did not backup the data on it just crashed when i installed a new driver for the infrared device. whenever i try to boot the machine, it gets to starting windows XP but just comes up with a blue screen that tells me to go to the safe mode or remove the device. i cannot remove the device because it is a laptop. and when i choose safe mode option it also goes to the blue screen page.
what can i do to salvage the situation without loing the data on it. i tried to use the repair option of the WinXP installation CD, it didn't work. I tried the reinstallation option, but it tells me it has to format the hard-disk. what can i do? pls

[Sterling_Aug]

See my PM response to your request.

[BipolarBill]

You don't have to format the drive. It's a choice, but you can simply choose a partition and press Enter. Your data will be saved.

Anyway, instead of choosing Safe Mode, try "Last Known Good...".

[bfadewole]

the same problem exists after i choose "the last known good ..."
i am not also given the option not to format the disk in the installation, if not i would have tried doing that.

[BipolarBill]

What is the exact blue-screen error. It sounds like you corrupted the partition table. If so, you will have to use a file recovery tool to get your data and then format.