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I came to the thread late, sorry. I just finished doing this for a friend today. Assuming the hard drive is still in the lappy, you:

1. Download a Live CD iso file - I used Linux Mint

2. Download a free copy of StarBurn

3. Using StarBurn, create a bootable CD from the iso image onto a CD/DVD.

4. Borrow or purchase a USB thumb drive.

5. Boot the laptop from the CD. Linux will come up into a recognizable GUI somewhat similar to what you're used to. Use it to navigate to the drive. If that drive successfully mounts, you'll see a file structure. You can copy anything you want off that and onto the USB thumb drive.

6. Repair or replace the bad hard drive. If you like, you can place Linux Mint onto it directly from the CD you just used to boot from. Be careful - if you overlay a new OS of any kind on that drive you stand to wipe what's on it.

FReepmail me if you need clarification. My friend got his pix back.