Now I'll have to do one of two things: (a) get this computer to recognize it is on a network so that I can move important data files to the #2 work machine, or (b) find my CD ROM with the CD burner software so that I can move the data files to a CD-R.
Why mess around with any of that? It's bound to be a pain in the butt if the Windows install is really unstable, and there's an easier way if none of the files on your disk are encrypted, and you have access to another Win2k machine (XP would probably also work if it's an NTFS drive - if it's FAT32, 95, 98, or ME should also work).
Just yank the data drive from the bad computer, hook up the IDE cable and power cable to the second machine, make sure it's properly configured as a master or slave as appropriate, and boot up the second machine - it should recognize and automatically mount the new (bad) disk. Then just use that machine to copy your files from the bad drive to anywhere you like.
Easy as pie, and as an added bonus, you can reformat and repartition it while it's hooked up to the second machine, and then put it back in the first machine to try reinstalling Windows... ;)