If the problem does NOT lie with the hard disk itself, then you might be able to boot up and access your HD with a boot-up floppy from just about any operating system. Do you have any older start-up boot disks? WIN98? WINME? Errr... you might have to set your BIOS to boot from floppy first if corrupted files on the HD are your problem.

Hmm...just thought of something. The Toshiba Satellites have a known problem with wireless connections. Gues what, it freezes when wireless is on.

Bottom line, need more info before I can really help much. Too many possibilities.