[Linux-disciples] data recovery via linux

[Brian Cooke]

My work laptop running Windows XP is hosed (long story).  Everytime I 
boot, I get the blue screen of death.  It is so bad that I get the BSOD 
even when I try to repair or re-install Windows using the CD.  If I give 
it to the IT drones at work, they will wipe the whole thing clean, which 
is a problem because it has some files of personal interest on that I 
need. 

Nevertheless, I remain confident that the hard drive is OK.  What I 
would like to do is copy the files I need to another computer on my home 
network, and then give it to the IT guys to wipe clean.  Since Windows 
isn't an option, I need some kind of Linux variant.  What I am looking 
for is something that

1) Boots and runs entirely from CD-ROM (I can't repartition the disk to 
fully install another OS because repartitioning will destroy the files I 
need)
2) Can mount and read NTFS partitions (don't care about write)
3) Is relatively easy to set up network devices and configure with a 
Windows LAN.

I know most if not all Linux variants have #2 and #3 by now -- I guess 
it's #1 I'm most concerned about (or rather #1, in conjunction with 2 
and 3). Does anybody have any suggestions/experience with a distro that 
fits these requirements?

Thanks,
Brian