If it's a restore CD you will almost certainly lose any data you have on your hard disk.

If you do have critical data please advise and then we can hopefully get it saved. You would need another functioning PC to do this & I hope there are no laptops involved.

There are several Works spreadsheets-receipts, etc. for tax time. These were the most important-a year's worth of records. We would (two users) like to have some of the emails that were in local folders on Outlook. Most photos are on CD and not a huge issue here. The only other really important files would be music my husband has recorded on the computer that is not backed-up.

Okay in an ideal and easy world you take the hard disk(HD) from your PC.

Open the functioning PC, disconnect the CD/DVD drive and connect your HD to those connections.

Boot the functioning PC which will recognise your HD.

Goto Control Panel and in the "Folder Options" under the View Tab tick the "Show Hidden Files & Folders" option

Copy the folder "Document and Settings" to the functioning PC hard drive.

Replace everything.

Use the restore CD & get your PC working.

Hope that makes sense......
Do all that and report back.

My bad. I forgot to answer that the working PC is a laptop. If I can get a tower (may be able to get one thru Freecycle; there is a man that reconditions them and gives them away), will that be okay? Anything in particular I should look, or, just any tower?

Any functioning tower booting with XP & a CD drive that works will suffiice. Ensure your own keyboard and mouse have the same connections.

Whilst we are rescuing data it seems a bit odd to buy a PC to accomplish it. Ask your friendly restoration guy to do it for you.

Oh No! Wouldn't buy one for rescue! Thought I'd see what the Freecycle guy was offering this week. As sson as I get caught up some on homework, I'll see what I can accomplish. I'll let you know-