Mac Mini (2008) won't startup. 3 warning beeps and flashing light.  Anyone help?

This mac is used in a school and has coursework saved on it.  Can anyone help or advise how to get info off the hard drive? Have already tried to firewire connect to another mac.

It sounds like a RAM issue, see this article:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2341
If that's what it is, see this FAQ*:
http://www.macmaps.com/badram.html

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