migrating Outlook emails?

Due to a recent disaster with microsoft windows update crashing my computer, I need to reformat my HD (windows won't load normally, in safe mode, or "last known good configuration". all i get is a quick screen flashing that says something about failing to load a possibly lost or corrupt registry file/hive?) But before I go down the reformat path, I would like to save all my emails (received and sent) and contacts from Outlook and be able to access them after I reinstall everything. I am unable to load the version of windows where everything is installed, but I managed to get a different version of windows running so I have access to all my files on the HD.
Does anybody know how I might go about salvaging what I can so I don't lose all my communications from the past 6 months?
Thanks!

 

Is this Outlook or Outlook express?

 

Outlook, not express.

 

What is the exact error message? This is most likely a registry error and can be repaired without a format and reinstall.

 

I can't tell what the exact error message is because it pops up and then the computer reboots before I can read it (it's literally less than a second)

In all likelihood it's probably a registry error, I remember that one of the windows updates I installed right before this happened mentioned something about the registry (but unfortunately I don't recall what exact update # it was). But how does one go about fixing that if you can't get windows to start?