i think a virus is preventing me from booting up and i need files from the hd

i was downloading a ufc fight that ended up a corrupt file and that night my wife tripped the breaker by vacuming and when i tried booting the pc back up it ran the chkdisc and found errors and corrected them and tried to reboot but now it just switches from the emachine screen and the windows screen. it doesnt get any further in the boot process than those two screens. i was wondering if i can install a new os on a different partition and use that os to somehow get the files i cant access. i really only want my photos and videos because that includes all the pictures and videos from my 2nd sons birth and first birthday. i thought i had everything backed up to this pc but apparently not all of our pictures and videos...my wifes angry, you wouldnt like her when shes angry hahahaha so anyone with any advice please let me know what you think i should do

 

Hi,

Instead of reinstalling a new OS, you could Download a Linux Live CD, e.g Ubuntu, boot it up and copy your photos and videos from the windows partition onto a usb stick or external HDD, then reinstall windows...

The Ubuntu CD iso can be downloaded from:

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

 

You can also make a boot disc if you are skilled enough. This would let you in the system to at least attempt some repairs.