Well, my brother is coming through for me. He told me that he thinks it's my hard disk's operating structure that's toast and that buying a new OS ain't gonna solve it. I can see my files listed when I'm in DOS, so I know they're there.
He's gonna give me the unopened, unused, brand-spankin'-new Dell PC he got as a bonus at work (he works for Intel) cuz he doesn't need it and it's been sitting around his apartment for a couple of months now. Know what that means?
I GET A NEW COMPUTER, FREE OF CHARGE!!!!
He said he'd ship it today, so i should get it by monday or so.
Most of the stuff on my computer is recoverable, it will just take forever, but I can do it, and I'll have a new computer, with legit software and all!
WOOOOHOOO!