hmmmmmmmmmm you can either create an image of entire harddisk using Norton Ghost or you can copy accros just the important data in your hard disk (if you have CDs of installed programs) and re-install them once XP is fixed.
The problem with making an image of harddisk is that IF the windows is corrupt, you will end up with a corrupted image of same operating system.
btw is that a CD you are trying to access and you are getting BLANK CD message?