Side notes..

This netbook comes with windows 8  but steps apply to windows 7 as well.

Windows 8 new method for entering safe mode has changed, we now how to press Shift + F8

The big surprise though is this doesn’t always work. Instead you will be greeted by the automatic repair feature ‘Preparing to auto repair message’ which can take anywhere from  to 15 days to complete.

The Sony VAIO E series has an assist button, simply power off computer and then press and hold the assist button until the VAIO  logo appears. Release and then wait.

You will then be presented with VAIOCARE | Rescue Mode

There are a few options , in this case we will be pressing F10

Select keyboard layout in the next screen

Under choose an option click troubleshoot

under troubleshoot choose advanced options

Under advanced options choose command prompt

you will then be presented with the command prompt from there you can access you local disks

all being well, no passwords required and you will have full access to your data

to access C drive type ‘c:’ press enter

type dir to confirm contents

at this point you can attach a usb or external drive you will have to guess which drive is your usb device.

to copy files from your user folder here are a 2 examples

Example 1 – Files are in ‘Users\Johnny\documents’  and assuming usb drive is on f:

we would type ‘xcopy c:\users\johnny\documents f:\backup  /f/s ‘  you will be prompted to confirm directory or file press D on keyboard

This would copy the content of the documents folder to a newly created  folder on your usb called ‘backup’

Example 2 – Files in ‘ Users\John Gates\music’ and assuming usb drive is on f:\

we would type ‘xcopy c:\users\”john gates”\documents f:\backup  /f/s ‘  you will be prompted to confirm directory or file press D on keyboard

notice the ” we use this when folders and files have a space in the name.

This would copy the content of the documents folder to a newly created  folder on your usb called ‘backup’

Further reading : Dos commands : Xcopy commands.