My laptop has been compromised by a hacker. How can I backup and store my data for recovery later?

[DudeGai]

I got this HP laptop about 3 years ago. I don't know the model because the stickers have been removed and I can't access the . 

A few months after I got it, code windows would randomly appear on the screen and then disappear. 

Later on, after blocking a Facebook stalker, the device was hacked, and the hacker took control of one of my social media accounts. Ever since the device has been acting as if it has a mind of its own:

-saying there are no available network connections, even when other devices are connecting to the network

-the screen goes black whenever I turn it on

-restarting or turning off on its own even when the battery is charged

-every time I try to manually restart the device, two programs temporarily prevent shutdown. I forgot the name of one but the other has "Broadcast Event Window" in it.

-Exiting applications such as wordpad while I am using them

-Control panel searches are disabled; the search freezes right before the result can appear

Recently, after getting frustrated, I messaged the person whom I believed to be the culprit behind the attack. Literally seconds later the device froze, and only pressing the power button could turn it off. Afterwards every time I tried to unlock the computer, a black or blue screen would appear. On top of this, the laptop had shown no recent signs of suspicious activity until the message was sent.

I'm not a tech addict, I can live without my laptop, but I am just going to buy another one. However, I would like to backup and recover the data from this one. Is there any way I can have assistance in doing so?

[WAWood]

DudeGai

Hello;

Allow me to welcome you to the HP forums!

Normally, I would recommend removing the drive from your laptop, connecting it to another PC using a USB-to-Hard-Drive adapter cable, and then copying the files and folders you need to the other PC.

But my concern with an infected PC, is that when you connect this drive to another PC, it will cause THAT PC to become infected!

So basically, you need to be able to retrieve files and folders without Windows running in the process.

The way you do that is to boot your PC from a Linux OS DVD.  The one I recommend is Ubuntu:  http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

When you open that page, scroll down past the contribution lines to the bottom where is says Not now, take me to the download.

This will retrieve an ISO file.  

Once you have this, you have a choice of media to create:
1) If you can boot from CD, download and install ImgBurn and use the Write Image to Disk option to create a bootable CD.
2) If you can boot from USB, download and install RUFUS and use the option to create a bootable USB stick from the ISO file.

Boot your PC with the media you created.  IF you see a choice between Install and Try Out, choose the latter.

Once you get to a desktop, you should then be able to see the files and folders you want under Places, and you can drag and drop them to an external storage device.

Good Luck

[DudeGai]

Ehh....I don't want to pay money across this device. The thing you said to scroll down and look for isn't there.

[WAWood · Accepted solution]

You don't have to pay  money -- as I already told you to scroll past the contribution lines to click the link to download the file.

I just checked the page again, and it IS there ...

You click the Download button.

You get another screen with a bunch of Contribution lines.

Down at the bottom,there is drawing of a monkey's face, a link to click and a Paypal button.

You click the link that says "Not now, take me to the download"

It should then start downloading the ISO file.