Windows Error Recovery...Done everything I know to do...

Computer: HP Pavilion m7750n
OS: Vista
I took a little trip & my 8 year old was the only person who spent any time on this computer.  He plays an online MMO & he assures me he didn't do anything unusual.
Having said that, let's assume he goofed something up.
When I start my computer it comes up with the "Windows error recovery" screen.  I have tried to "start windows normally" but it goes back to this screen after about 10 minutes.  The other option is to "launch startup repair."
This takes me to a sreen entitled "System recovery options" where I select a keyboard layout (US) & hit NEXT.
Another 2 minutes or so...(the computer is going oomp click oomp click the whole time)...
Screen entitled "System recovery options" it says to select an OS to repair.  Only Vista OS's are available.  There are no files listed in the windows entitled "Operating System, Partition Size, Location."  I can choose "LOAD DRIVERS" or "NEXT."  I am able to pull up alot of drivers but they accomplish nothing & get me back to the same screen eventually.
"NEXT" Recovery Tool choice & gives me many options all of which I have tried.
Startup Repair, System Restore, Windows Complete PC Restore, Windows memory Diagnostic Tool, Command Prompt, Restore Application.
I can get to a command prompt using this method.  Getting there through F8 does not work.  (still hearing the oomp click of what I believe to be a hard drive on its last legs.
I have run chkdsk from the command prompt w/o specifiying an f parameter & got some results...not sure how to read them though.
I have tried to run rstrui.exe/OFFLINE:c:\windows but just get an immediate prompt again.
As mentioned, my computer is making a new noise that I suspect is the hard drive trying to read.  I have a little hope because I am seeing it pull files from the partitioned drive.
Can anyone suggest other things I can try before I plug the hard drive into my laptop & try a check disc from there?   I hope i am not to the point where I have to put it in the freezer (>.<)

[Moderator]

Sounds like the drive is on it's last legs...the more you try to fix it the further away your salvageable data gets...

Slave Drive Info,,,

Hurry.

Thanks for the info.  I have the necessary cables.  Wish me luck!  I will be trying to pull my wife's thousands of pictures off it tonight...that is all I am worried about at the moment.

Well, I tried everything (even sticking the hard drive in the freezer).....HD kaput!....Now I am trying to install a new hard drive & I have received the recovery discs from HP.  Once I get to the screen that tells me to load the supplemental recovery disc, after 3 hours, I still show 0% progress. 

I have a 1.5TB Seagate Barracuda ST315005N4A1AS-RK PN: 9JB1AU-571.  I don't believe I have to jumper pins 1 & 2 because my mother board is the following...A8M2N-LA (NodusM3).  My computer is an HP m7750n.

Need additional info?  Any ideas?

Thanks,
Kenny