I think I screwed up my computer today, and I don't know if I can fix it. I tried to load a Linux live DVD (before I used USB, but now I had to use DVD) and once in, when things were unresponsive, I decided to hard shut it down. When I tried to go back to Windows, things got ugly. It goes through the "Starting Windows" screen okay, but then it just reboots. Apparently a file named memtest.exe is missing or corrupted, and that can't be good. And the Recovery Environment seems to be a non-option directly from the computer or from disk, as it will get to the screen with a functioning cursor, but nothing shows up. It's just a black screen. I tried booting from the Linux DVD, but that didn't seem to load either now, and that's my best option for recovery, as I could read the Windows file system and hopefully retrieve the files I want to salvage. Looks like I'm screwed. However, a user on this site named Extaticus (or however he likes time capitalize it) told me of SATA-USB adapters, which could apparently let me use an HDD like a USB mass storage device, assuming the data isn't corrupted. And that would help greatly and not be too hard, as I have seen my dad take apart the same laptop model I have. Coincidentally, this happened on the same day my dad and I started to work out a "new computer" plan. Said plan involves me taking his year old (non-touchscreen) Windows 8 laptop, and him getting a tablet. His idea, not mine. And wow, I typed a lot of text. Typing on a phone takes a lot more time than a keyboard.