Semi-Repartition and had to stop..?

[lolwut]

Okay,
I was going from an old Linux installation on my mums laptop to a newer Windows one and I suddenly realised that I hadn't backed up the address book, so i turned it off and now I'm getting error screens and I can't boot up.
I was wondering if anyone knows any applications for Ubunutu Linux to get data semi hidden or generally what I should do?
There's 2 ways to go I guess, take it apart and see what I can do or finish the install, and go through all her emails and re-make the address book. At the moment it looks like I'm going to end up doing the latter.
Any help or whatever appreicated. :)

[Technologic]

You turned the computer off.. during installation?

[lolwut]

No. My mum shouted at me til I did.
Against me saying it'd just make it worse.

But for anyone who cares the address book's stored on another computer. Thank god.

[Technologic]

You turned a computer off

whilst installing an OS

:l Please tell me you really didnt do that

[Leetzgirl]

You turned a computer off

whilst installing an OS

:l Please tell me you really didnt do that

it would just effect the OS aye? he only needs to reformat?

[Technologic]

Yes but he wants to retrieve data from the hdd... reformmatting would just cause all that data to be lost

[iTech]

Oh my God...

[Kevin]

I would have told my mum to **** off if she tried turning off during an OS install.

-Kevin