anybody know computers? help!

[_paralyzed_]

I've been on bedrest for the last 2 months, and using a friends laptop. I tried to turn on my desktop today and it wouldn't boot. I ran the system restore cd's and it says software is missing or corrupt. I haven't used it in 2 months and the dsl cable has been hooked to the laptop, the last use worked fine. It's a 6 year old e-machines, windows xp. Is it at all worth getting repaired? Is there anything I can do? I barely have money for r/c's, this is no good! Thank you for any help or knowledge, I'm at my wits end.