Recovering files off a crashed macbook

Hello,
Does anyone have any suggestions for recovering files off a crashed macbook? It stopped working after some updates were preformed. It won't successfully start in safe mode, it just hangs like for hours. I've done the check disk in single user mode which seems to be as far as it will boot. Is there a way to disable services and try to troubleshoot?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated and I appreciate your help.

Gregger

Try booting off the install dvds

Also make sure you don't have any USB devices connected (such as an iPod) when you try booting. My Macbook won't boot (grey screen) if my iPod is connected during the boot sequence.