MacBook Pro-Leopard won't load - HD reads okay-URGENT WORK!

HELP! MacBook Pro Core Duo shows apple and spinning ball at start up- did the usual (safe mode, reset smu, boot from install disk- and was able to verify hd) went to Genius Bar, guy there tested it said HD was fine probably a software problem, suggested archive and reinstall. Had been having some freezes, some errors (e.g., trying to use Time MAchine but failed) that pointed to needing to reinstall OS. Tried to archive and install that but finally got message that it failed - BUT used 11 of the 20 GIGs or so remaining in doing so, so can't even try again. I have a back up from about a week ago (just copied home folders to external drive when I couldn't use time machine, have a bootable clone as well from some time ago so could reintall the clone and add back the home folders I guess) but I have some work done in the last week that I do need quite urgently if there is any way I can get in and grab the files. I have at my disposal a slightly earlier MacBook Pro running Tiger and a new MacBook Pro running Snow Leopard.
Suggestions? Don't want to mess up anything. A few months out of Apple Care, too. Anyone up?
Thanks,
Annexit
btw, can't figure out updated Apple Support Communities - used to be able to find the group I needed, so sorry if this is in the wrong place

Sorry, A Brody for violating protocol - will do as you ask in future. I was getting anxious that no one was responding so cross posted. I have been spoiled in previous years with lots of people up all night responding (including you who has helped me over the years) and was feeling desperate!
The saga continuea. Worked for a little from the backup bootable drive as above but that started crashing.Went to Apple Store, Genius Bar guy said everything tested out fine on hard drive test, and recommended Archive and Install (this MacBook Pro runs Leopard). Went to sleep hoping to have good news, but Archive and Install hung half way through - copied all files, but in "previous" folder. No room left to try again
Went to Apple Store again, and kind Genius Bar guy booted me up to his LaCie drive and I was able to transfer files manually to my backup drive - took all day and lots of coffee LOTS of corrupt InDesign CS3 files that stalled the back up (probably was the cause of Time MAchine not working) so had to transfer in small packets. With all the corrupt files, we thought maybe it was a software issue
Clean install, transferred most files back seemed okay for a few days, then started freezing, then yesterday, the grey screen apple and beach ball spinning on start up. Back to square one Got a loud buzz on restart a few times during the entire mess, was planning on installing new RAM, and Genius had said if after clean install I still had problems it might be the RAM. Beautiful people at Crucial overnighted me new RAM. But to no avail.
Have booked the Genius Bar again late tonight but this computer has had 2 new motherboards (one when a new graphics card had to be replaced on this model and one later), the HD has passed hard drive test many times, not sure what else could be wrong - after clean install worked like a dream for a few days! Then - zip.
Had 3 years of Apple Care, just ended so feeling a little frustrated - genius said computer is no way too old or out of date (and I can't afford new Adobe Creative Suite anyway). What other problems would cause failure to boot?
Thanks,
Annexit

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