thankyou Wolfeymole and maynardvdm for the advice. but as the computer is unstable (the fan is terribley loud and there is a clicking sound along with the fact that the software isnt real) i want to stop using the pc altogether and get a new laptop with a legitimate version of vista, is there anyway you can advise me how to connect the laptop to retrieve the files that way? i really dont want to continue using the pc as it has been getting progressively worse over the last few monthes and i would like to just start afresh:)
i understand though if you cannot help:)
thanx