HD / Windows XP died on me, need help please

[py258]

My computer had some serious problems yesterday. When I turned it on, it got to the Windows XP splash screen, and then after that, it just turned black and didn't do anything. I rebooted, and it brought me to the thing where it says windows did not shut down properly, and after that, it did the same thing; it got to the splash screen and then just went black after that. Many times I tried rebooting and that just kept happening. I popped in my Windows XP CD and tried the Repair feature, hoping that I might not have to reformat my entire hard drive. Well, I did the Repair Windows thing and I think it essentially reinstalled Windows. After all that, it works now, but I seem to have lost a lot of things. Most of my programs are still here and working, but I seem to have lost everything in my My Documents folder. I haven't checked the complete damage yet to see what else I lost, but the My Documents folder was the first thing I checked, and everything in it is gone. Do I have any hope in recovering my files or am I pretty much stuck?

[py258]

An update: I found some of my music files in the Recycle Bin. Approximately 20 of the hundreds of music files I originally had were in the Recycle Bin. I don't really see a pattern in the music files that I found though. Any help is appreciated.

[jayb1234]

This might get some of the files back if they haven't been overwritten. Avoid using the machine untill you run it.

[doubledragon5]

Go to the manufactures web site and down load their diagnostic too. If it shows any errors than you will have to RMA it...