[OT] Need Computer Geek Advice

Once again, I have to turn to the most-reliable computer-information source on the internet, good ol' agb. Here's the dealio:

Last night, I booted up one of my older computers, Win XP SP2, has Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2007 on it. First thing that happens is PC-cillin downloads updates. After that's done, I start Mozilla Thunderbird, and shortly after that, before Thunderbird even has a chance to finish loading, PC-cillin virus warning signs start popping up, rapid-fire, there must have been over a hundred of them before I finally pulled the plug. It was about a half-dozen different viruses IDed, repeating over and over. PC-cilling warned me that they were there, but said it couldn't repair or quarantine the infected files. Hey, thanks a lot, Trend Micro! Anyway, I pulled the plug, tried to re-boot, no dice. Tried safe mode, no dice. Partially starts up Windows, then croaks. She's a goner.

So, here's my question. PC-cillin is obviously of no use here, so is my only resort to take the machine in to a computer shop and have them do whatever they do, or are there means available to schlubs like me to try fixing this myself?

Some of the viruses IDed contained the dread word "rootkit." What are the odds that I can retrieve photos and downloaded music off the hard drive? I don't really care about anything else on the computer.

Is this still in DIY territory, or is the thing tech-bound? Or should I just douse it with gas and set 'er on fire?

This is the machine that you guys coached me through a hard-drive replacement about a year ago, so I know I'm in good hands here.

Thanks.
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