Can't access Rescue and Recovery

As someone who uses Vista, I'm used to my OS failing to start. Usually all I need to do is put in the Windows Installation Disk and let it automatically repair. Except thats not working this time. Thats another problem entirely though, and I'm not sure if anyone can help me there (basically, it says the "wdf01000.sys" file is missing or corrupt and the windows installation disk simply fails to repair it).

I may have resigned myself to a lost computer... but I do want to at least recover all my files using the rescue and recovery tools.

So on startup, I hit the blue ThinkVantage button, hoping to get to the utility where I can recover files from my harddrive- or even access the internet using the browser they have. I've done it before. But now its not working. Instead, I get sent to a "Startup Interrupt Menu", the options for which don't lead me to where I want to go.

Any insights?

Thanks in advance.

 

Was your Vista fresh-installed? Anyway, try this.

 

No, I've had Vista on this laptop for almost a year. Problems pop up occassionally, but they're easily resolved with the installation CD.

I'm willing to count this as a point where I'll have to reinstall Vista (or, more likely, just downgrade to XP). I just don't want to lose all my files since my last backup.

Thanks for that link, but I'm curious about one thing on there: it says I have to "Install the Rescue and Recovery software, before restoring the partition." Is this software usually installed (is it the one I've always been using when my OS doesn't load) or is it something I must do as well? Because if its the latter, I'm out of luck. I can't accomplish anything on my computer right now.

But also, its not like the F11 option is gone. It still shows up. But after I click it, all it does is take me to the "Windows Error Recovery" screen that I'm trying to avoid.

 

The Rescue and Recovery software is the one that you've been using with your OS.