To retrieve files, I'd boot up the latest ubuntu linux live disk on the machine, and then you should be able to copy any files you need to an attached external hard drive.

Unsolicited advice, I know. Sorry. I can give more details if you want.

I would love more details, DarkForest!

I have used a Linux Knoppix disk to retrieve files from a broken XP machine.

There's an old tutorial on how to do this here. I'll give a basic rundown. Unfortunately, there are always difficulties that may come up.

You will need an external hard drive or a usb thumb drive to copy your files to. Only copy data files as they are not likely to be contaminated with whatever virus you had.

You can get the latest Ubuntu Linux Live disk here. It has a boot from cd "live" mode that does not install anything to the hard drive. This is useful for just trying out ubuntu, but is also useful for doing what you need to do here. Download the 32-bit desktop edition. It should download a .iso file.

You'll need to burn this .iso image file to a cd. I don't think windows has it's own program to burn iso files to a cd. (yeah, fuck you microsoft, that's what you call a standard format idiots. don't you believe in standards?). So you might need to use another cd burner program. Is there one on the pc you are using to download? Nero or Sonic or Roxio? If there is, you'll want to select something like "burn image file" or burn iso file or something like that. If not, maybe try that imgburn program mentioned in the tutorial.

Use this new CD to boot up your problem computer with the external hd or thumb drive attached. Your problem pc will have to be set to boot first from CD. Sometimes they are set that and sometimes they are not. If it doesn't boot from the CD, then you'll have to change the bios setting to get it to do so. I may be able to help with that later if need be.

If you booted to linux, it should give you a menu like on that tutorial page. Choose "Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer" or something equivalent. It will take a minute or 2 to boot. Booting from a CD is slower than from HD. It will likely ask you some questions as it boots. Unless it looks particularly dangerous for some reason, just hit return to accept the defaults.

I don't think it presents you with a login screen if you boot as a live disk. I think it boots straight to the ubuntu desktop. There might either be some drive icons on the desktop representing your internal hard drive and your external storage device. Or you can probably use the Places menu as described in the tutorial to explore your old HD and copy files to your external storage device. There's an explorer-like program that should come up when you double click on your internal or external storage devices. I think the newer Ubuntu distributions are better about mounting drives than is described in that tutorial.

If you get to this point, you should be able to find your files on your old HD and copy them to the new one. Are you familiar with where windows and your applications hide their files? When you are done copying, shut down ubuntu. Wait for shutdown to complete before disconnecting your external storage device. Hopefully, you are done. This is really easier than my big block of text makes it look.

Too bad flabdablet is not here. He could explain better than I can. If you have more questions about anything or get stuck just post back here.

Yes, any good linux live disk should work. I've just used ubuntu in the past to do this.

Also, I'd still hold out hope for the old PC itself. Use one of those linux-based antivirus live disks to clean off the viruses. Then do an xp repair install (just google it) to repair your driver problems. Then just do microsoft update to get all the patches that were overwritten by the repair install. It's fairly likely you'd get your pc back as good as new (or at least as it was before the problem), or at least you'd be in good shape to recover your files from it before you dump the machine. Just a thought. That's what I'd do, but i have scads of empty time.

Thank you so much! I'm going to try this later today/tonight. I have something called BurnCDCC and I'll use that.

Right now I'm posting while using Puppy Linux. The whole OS fits on a usb stick which I'm going to carry around in my handbag. I followed your instructions to boot the computer, and saved all of my important files...thanks so much, DarkForest!

You're welcome! Glad it worked out.

Can you tell me how to put a shortcut on my desktop in puppy? Linux is still a mystery, trying to play with it and see if I want to do an actual install....I think I do! My default browser is FF but I want to put the Seamonkey icon on my desktop and can't figure it out...I can't drag it or right click on it.

Also, everything is out of contrast and super bright, and links are pale gray, can't read them. Where do I adjust this? Sorry for the dumb questions!

Omigod, just got the last piece of the final emcee.