Computer will not get to Desktop

We recently (a week ago) pulled out an old desktop dell dimension 4550 that was purchased in 2001. We have not used it in about 1-2 years. It worked great no issues. However, yesterday a chkdsk request popped up and my husband hit enter for it to proceed. Once he hit enter and the chkdsk was complete, the computer is not able to get to the main desktop again. It brings up the DELL logo and Windows XP over and over again like it is in a loop. I called DELL who tried SAFE MODE - use last good setting, reboot from CD, a few things but to no avail. DELL informed me that I would need to take it to an expert to get the data off and reload the PC. Since I can't get to the desktop, I am unable to take the data off myself. Before I did this wanted to check with GP to see if there is anything else I can try.

to get the data off i would suggest using a cd bootable linux i prefer slax my self no mounting any hard drives and external hard-drives are automatically recognized i find that sometimes with ubuntu u have to mount the hardrive ur self and i suck with linux so i just stick with slax here is a link to thier site
http://www.slax.org/get_slax.php

Yep, Amit's suggestion would likely work.

I went to the website (slax). After I put the software on my CD, I then go back to my desktop and try to boot from the CD? What happens next? Do I need to have my external hard drive in place at that time or can I get to slax network and place my files there permanently or temporarily. What will I see after i boot up.. my desktop or what?? as you can see I'm not very technical

Try this instead.

Avira AntiVir Rescue System is a Linux-based application that allows accessing computers that cannot be booted anymore.

• Download The Avira AntiVir Rescue System from Antivir.de.
  
• Just double-click on the rescue system package to burn it to a CD/DVD.
  
• Then please use that CD/DVD with Avira Rescue System to boot your computer.
  

You'll get a boot option to either boot from hard drive or AntiVir Rescue System.


Press the number 2 on your keyboard to boot into AntiVir Rescue System.

Please wait until drivers are loaded and Main menu shows. Then please select the second option “Scan your system with AntiVir” and hit Enter.


Under Configuration, please select Scan all files, Try to repair infected files and Rename files if they cannot be removed?.


Then please start the scan.

The Avira AntiVir Rescue System wil now

• repair a damaged system,
  
• rescue data,
  
• scan the system for virus infections.
  

I placed the CD in the drive with the above executable on it. I first tried to use it by hitting PF12 and selecting 3 IDE CD ROM Device to boot. I get a message "stike F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup utility". If I hit F1, i get the message again. if F2 I get the standard setup utility screen. I then simply turned the computer on with the CD in the drive. The usual happen back to the DELL/Windows XP screens looping. Should I be doing something different.