Hardware :: Unable To Get Start Up Disk Registering / Using Old Minolta Film Scanner

First, the machine died - like I dont get a start up disk registering or hear the HD accessing. No apple logo or question mark... Sometimes I just get a black screen and a single tone. I think the hard drive was ok, since it wont even engage nor will a start-up disc - ie. there is something earlier in path thats not working. I dropped the machine a few days ago and I think I broke the fan as it gets really hot. A day or so later it died, making me thing that something in the hardware was fried. So - I am hoping that I can take the harddrive out and just import all of my email, etc. during installation on the new MBP. I haven't checked that the HD is functional, but the computer has been on its last leg for a while (I was actually holding out for the next generation of MBP in spet? or so, but no dice...) and I assume it's too expensive to fix. I assume I would just have to buy an external chassis. Any opnions on what I need to do for this?

Second, I have an old minolta film scanner that I want to be able to use. Supposedly, it only works on tiger (the prior operating system?). Thus I was told if I partition the harddrive of the new computer I can also install tiger and have some space to burning large size scans from 35mm and medium format. Anybody have an idea of how to do this and how much space is recommened? I would just use the scans in the Leopard part of the computer. And do I have any problems if I later upgrade to the next system (ie. can you just do this in the larger, current partitioned area, rather than the small partition establisehd for scanning?).