[ChrisZang]

been there done that

You have basically the following options:

a) get the drive out the laptop and get the external cable and you should be able to get your data off the drive

b) *Maybe* you can re-install the O/S WITHOUT erasing what's already on the disk:

WARNING: These instructions are written from memory so proceed with caution:

Boot your laptop with your XP CD
Do NOT choose the "recovery" option, choose the option to do an install
During the next questions you can either choose between wiping out the hard disk and do a fresh install from start - DO NOT CHOOSE THIS OPTION
- OR -
to repair an existing installation - that's what you want to choose

that's about it

Good luck