XP Start up problems

Can’t get system to boot.(stupid me has no backup)
Heard there was a boot disk software that will allow me to boot in the sys. Have tried everything I could think of. I really don’t want to reformat the drive. Was told to use xp disk to boot to the recovery console. When the disk stops it is where it lists all the drive lettrers and not the recovery (r). Help!!!

Thanks in advance
Virgil