XP operating system, protected disk area . . .

I want to access files in the XP NTFS System (Protected Area). If I do a "Restore" for any reason, I get everything in the factory-supplied partition, which is a nuisance. Periodically, all I want to do is go into the protected area for a file or two. I do not need a whole lot of junk that I will subsequently delete once the "Restore" is completed (such as "Try & Buy", eg, Corel, etc.). The so-called "options" restore menu is ridiculously small and hasn't anything worth restoring from it. I need a comprehensive list of stuff in the 10gig partition. I have an 80gig drive, 10 gigs used for the system itself. Can I use a function to at least do a "copy & paste" from this area?
~ ~ Jeff S. jjsam45@excite.com

I recomend to read your disk from an ubuntu session