Need more info about your damaged hd. Is the partition deleted or just file, is it just won't boot, is the hard disk dead (not recognize by bios) or just a corrupted files...etc.
You could try use Ultimate Boot Cd for this purpose for people unfamiliar with linux.
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

If your partition is lost, look for Tesdisk utility which also comes with knoppix. or Active@ Partition Recovery.

If you want to recover files, try PC Inspector uitilities:
http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/UK/welcome.htm

If you just can't boot, look for MBRTool or use your XP cd to recover by booting using xp cd and choose recovery console, run this command:
fixmbr and fixboot.

This two aren't free but you can try it:
There is also a new hard disk utility that claim that can make dead hd alive by replacing firmware. I tried with one of my dead maxtor , and it's working, not replacing the firmware but repairing bad sector. The firmware thing isn't free. You could try the demo, which scan and repair bad sector but it will destroy files on it.
http://www.salvationdata.com/
Another utility is hdd regenerator http://www.dposoft.net/. It recover bad sector without destroying files on it.