Tony,
Your files are probably still there - it's just that you can't access them. There is a good possibility that your Master Boot Record has been mangled (MBR). Don't do anything foolish like reformatting, ETC because you then lose everything for sure.
go to www.langa.com/newsletters/2000/2000-07-17.htm
and follow the directions to rebuild the MBR.
Since your computer wont boot, you will have to get someone else with a working computer to make a DOS boot disk for you.
Good luck,
Walt

[This message has been edited by Walt Meyer (edited 06-24-2005).]