Windows crashed and need to reinstall - must find my .pst files in command prompt - please assist

[Hfactor858]

Windows 10 has developed a critical error and, following the assessment of an expert technician, I have been advised to reinstall.   The process will remove all apps but preserve my files which are, in any event, backed up daily.   I am not sure if the reinstall will erase Outlook's pst files and I'm not sure if I included them in my daily backup routine.  I really don't want to risk losing all my archived emails.   I am, therefore, looking to find these files on my PC's hard drive and save them to an external hard drive before I initiate the Windows 10 reinstall.   I can only access the drive by command prompt or  notepad  - but I do not know how to search or find the files !
I assume they are hidden in some way.   Can anyone suggest a means of finding files stored anywhere on the hard drive in my PC, whether hidden or not, using only DOS commands? I cannot find the file in users/local data or even that file in users. HELP 

[WAWood]

@Hfactor858 

What you were told is not actually true -- as it depends critically on HOW you do the reinstall of Windows.

There are two very different methods for doing this -- one preserves data, the other does not.

The first method is a Repair-Install and it basically reinstalls just the Windows system files, leaving your account, settings, personal data and applications intact.  But it has to be run from inside Windows.  IF you can not boot to a working Windows desktop, you can not use this method.

The second method is a Clean-Install and this is done by booting from Windows media.  It will replace the entire Windows installation with a new one from the media.  You will lose everything in the process.

In terms of data recovery, we have no way of know which particular files contain your emails.  While MS Office Outlook does use .PST files, different versions use different files. So, the first thing you would need to do to recovery these is to contact a Microsoft Office support forum to find out how the emails are stored and where the .PST files are kept.

Once you have that information, you would then need to focus your efforts on data recovery.

All you will be able to recover at best from the drive is personal data. You will not be able to recover settings, website information (including user accounts and passwords) or applications.

Your best bet for recovering data now is to do the following:
1) Remove the disk drive from the old PC. If this is a SATA hard drive or a SATA SSD, this is a simple thing to do. If this is an m.2 SSD, that could be either screwed to the motherboard or soldered to the motherboard. If the second, you would need to have a techician remove it for you, or you risk seriously damaging the PC doing it yourself.
2) If you have a desktop PC with a spare hard drive connector, then connect the old drive to that. If the old drive is a SATA drive, connect both the power cable and the data cable. (This adapter is illustrated below) If the old drive is an m.2 SSD, you will need a USB-to-mSATA cable.

3) Try to retrieve the files and folders you want to save from the old drive and copy them to the new PC.

If this does not work, then you need to do the following:
1) Download and install this utility on a working PC http://www.majorgeeks.com/news/story/recover_data_in_3_steps_with_minitool_power_data_recovery_free_...
2) Run the data recovery utility to see what can be retrieved from the old drive.

If that tool does not find what you need, an alternative is Recuva http://www.piriform.com/recuva

And, if that does not work well, the best tool out there is this one, but only the demo version is free https://www.runtime.org/data-recovery-software.htm

[Hfactor858]

WAWood,

Morning and thank you for the details - 

1. Yes, the OS is stuck in repair mode loop. It cannot do a repair install or OS repair. Must install from boot usb. 
2. to do that , I must delete the partition that holds the OS ,  as the 32g drive is full. 
3 It’s a flash drive directly on the motherboard , so no removal or upgrade. 
4. that’s why I needed to get the info off the device by cmd prompt/notepad etc , as I cannot boot in safe mode or a working windows. 
5. I think I have been able to retrieve the known files by searching the c: drive  search for *.pst /*.ost .... 

6. I just wanted to make sure to retrieve the data I can before scrapping it . 

not sure what else to do 

thanks for the time and effort of your reply! 

[WAWood]

@Hfactor858 

The main problem with the Stream line is that the 32GB SSD is not removable or replaceable by the consumer.

Since you can't boot from the "drive" you would then have to use another PC to make boot media, which you could then use to recovery files from the "drive". 

So, what I propose is booting your PC from a USB stick containing a different Windows environment, plugging in a USB stick (once that it running), and using a file explorer app to copy the files you need to save from the SSD to the USB stick.

What MIGHT work is the following:
1) On a working PC, use this link to download and install a free copy of Macrium Reflect: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
2) Once that is installed, use the option to create a Boot USB stick (Other Tasks --> Create Rescue Media). This creates a bootable USB stick that runs a version of Windows.
3) Boot the PC from that USB stick. To do this, try pressing F9 repeatedly while booting to get a boot drive menu, or press the Esc key repeatedly while booting to get an HP utilities menu, and select the boot menu from that
4) Be patient ... as booting from a USB stick is really, really slow
5) Once in the MR recovery environment, you can then remove the USB stick.
6) Insert a USB stick for holding data and, down at the bottom left of the windows screen are some icons. Select the one on the right to open a form of File Explorer.
7) Use the File Explorer app to locate the files you need and copy them to the USB stick.

Good Luck

[Hfactor858]

WAWood - 

I am booting from a USB - from windows media creation tool ... 

when I choose to boot from that - I get the windows safemode splash screen to install 

bottom left  is a link to “repair “- but that fails to the repair mode , same as before.

click install, and can do the repair install (Does not work) or custom / (wipe and replace ) 

is the media creation software you mentioned from “macrium” different ? Or will I have a different boot outcome Than what I am doing now ?