well if it means fixing it, then i can live without them.

That's what I always figure... when you do get it fixed-- and start accumulating those personal things again-- get into a habit of regular backups of just those files. Usually backing up "My Documents"
and "My Pictures" and perhaps "My Music" is sufficient-- anything else can be replaced.

If you don't have a Windows Disc-- do you have any other programs on CD?
Office software
Anti Virus
Firewall ?

if not ....there are free alternatives out there-- but you'd lose the originals of those too.