Computer guru's, need help

[buckshotbarlow]

Try using utility called spinrite from grc.com, if your hard drive is recoverable this could help. Once you get it to boot do a backup of important files.

find access to a burner first...then run spinrite. If that doesn't work run a linux live cd...here's a list: http://livecdlist.com, then what you can do is mount up the drive, scp/ftp/tftp whatever the hell you want off of that hdd. After that, buy a new drive from microcenter...