These are the steps I use to sort stuff...
1. Extract hard drive from computer that needs sorting.
2. Insert it into working Linux system and copy all user files that need to be kept to a directory
3. Reinstall the hard drive back into the non booting computer
4. Reinstall windows on the broken computer (or use the factory reset if it has one)
5. Transfer the needed files via a samba share to the now sorted computer.
6. Snoop through my co-workers files and post the funny ones on the internet. (optional)
7. Collect reward, and bask in the glory of being called a miracle worker and saving all those (interchangeable) photos of co-worker children etc while giving (pointless) lecture on making backups.
There are variants of this that involve using live CDs and USB drives or only doing step 4 but these can cause unwanted complications that I prefer to avoid and often result in skipping some or all of step 7.