How to Back Up a Computer When the Operating System Is Corrupted

1. Shut down the computer, unplug it and then open the case. The case has a door on each side that can be removed by unscrewing it from the back of the case.
2. Disconnect the cables from the back of the hard drive. There should be a power and a data cable. Pay attention to how they are connected so that you can reconnect them. They should pull straight out.
3. Find another computer has the same type hard drive. Hard drives are either IDE or SATA. You can put this hard drive as an extra drive in another computer to read and copy the files. Install the hard drive in the other computer.
4. Shut down the other computer. Open the case on the other computer by unscrewing the door from the back of the case. Connect the hard drive to the correct power and data cables.
5. Start the other computer and browse the files on the drive. Even if the operating system is corrupt you should be able to see all the files and then back them up onto the other computer's hard drive by just copying and pasting them.