BOOTMGR is Missing - Linux Boot Possible

Hi all

Sorry guys I was given some duff info yesterday!
I now have the PC (Packard Bell) available and on start up the actual error
messages a

Verifying DMI Pool Data ................
BOOTMGR is missing
Press Ctrl-Alt-Del to restart

Has a Win XP logo on front.

So the question is pretty much the same:

Should I be able to access the data from Ubuntu CD boot?

Also, I have used the terminal "force" commands to gain access to a laptop
drive previously.
But I know very little about Linux software and possible corruption of data.
Can using these force commands to enable disk access actually cause data
corruption?
The PC I'm looking at has valuable family pics on apparently and I certainly
don't want to risk rendering the disk unrecoverable.

Thanks

Phil