Disaster recovery!

Turned on my (linux) Aspire One this morning, and noticed that there were a couple of system updates to install. Installed them (idiotically without first backing up files), and tried to restart, but I'm not getting beyond the first screen (the one where you press F2 to go to setup). After that, it just goes to a black screen.

I have a couple of files which I really need to recover. Is there some way to start up from USB (i.e. without having to do a system restore), just so that I can copy the files off and then do the system restore. This is an absolute nightmare.

Thanks for any help!

 

If you have external dvd drive or usb-stick, try to use them.

f.e.:
you can boot with a live-cd (knoppix, or damn small linux)
then put an sd card in the cardreader, save the files you need.

you can do this also with a bootable usb-stick.
but i only testet the frist method, since i haven't got an usb-stick.
but i also could boot from an extern-cardreade with a sd card in it.
so, there are many ways how you can save your files, but you need to boot from an external usb drive or usb-stick.
also dont't forget you need a live distibution, to load from.