no you don't need any of that
download
the ultimate boot CD
http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
knoppix
http://www.knoppix.org/
or
ubuntu
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download
or whatever (hiren???)
boot the machine and if it can be ... that should get you accessto the file
without any details It's difficult to advise further
but one reason for a bsod is a hdd crash ... and if that's why ... you had better start trying to remember what was in that letter
(it's not as if you don't know the person involved !!! - and starting fresh just might give you inspiration)