After some complications arose uninstalling KDE4 (bleh), I had to backup my home folder to my FAT32 partition using "cp -r etc. etc." The problem is, the computer crashed partway through the copy process. I reinstalled Linux, hoping I could use what little I did back up. Then when I booted the new partition (ignoring a warning message about it while editing partitions, stupid me...) Linux proceeded to freak out about corrupt data on the FAT drive and then froze up. Windows can't delete it, Linux won't start, how do I delete this crap without reformatting the FAT partition!? I can't lose my precious pirated goodies!

create a separate linux installation with a separate home folder and use recovery tools to go in after your files while in your "good install" That is one way . . .