Windows can someone help? need a free USB bootable OS

Hi guys

After a bit of help, my laptop is stuffed, I get a BSOD and an endless boot loop.

I don't mind reformatting but I want to recover my files on there first,my problem is I can't even find my windows disk right now to reinstall.

What I need is

An OS that's free
It can boot from a USB pen
It will give me an environment where I can shift the files from my hard drive to a pen drive

Been out of the game for a bit so not sure what's out there, any easy solutions?

Thanks

 

done.

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/try-ubuntu-before-you-install

 

Have used Knoppix with great success before.

The download is for dvd/cd but I followed a guide on you tube to make it into a bootable USB OS.

 

Cheers atomic! I forgot to mention my laptop doesn't have a CD drive so that USB image should do the job

Thanks