Need to access harddrive yet computer infected by virus

[werner german]

My laptop got infected by some kind of a virus while installing IE 8 - which tells me that it probably wasn't IE8 to begin with - and now I am not able to even access the windows page . I've went to a local tech shop and they were able to access the files on my harddrive . How were they able to do this ? Was it through an external harddrive connected to a functional windows program ? How am I able to find such a device should it exist and how much would it cost me ? Thanks . Please elaborate on the options .

 

[VINMAN46]

is this what your talking about http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...CatId=2781&name=2.5-external-drive-enclosure&

 

[werner german]

is this what your talking about http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...CatId=2781&name=2.5-external-drive-enclosure&

Perhaps , I don't exactly know how he was able to access my hard drive contents despite the fact that windows wouldn't even load up . He was able to connect to my harddrive to his computer and then access the files .

 

[Rube]

you could download an ubuntu live cd and monut your infected hdd and coppy the needed files to a flashdrive or other removable media

or you could use this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...2002&cm_re=pata_to_usb-_-12-232-002-_-Product
this is probibly the type of device he used to recover your files but if the computer he was using to recover your files was the same operating system as yours then his computer might also be infected