Does recuva create a bootable device so I can use it to recover an HDD that has lost its boot files for Windows XP?
No, Recuva does not create rescue media.
Recuva recovers deleted or ‘lost’ for other reasons files from a drive to a different drive.
I don’t think that that is what you are looking for here.
From what you describe then I think you need to repair the XP boot sector on your drive - or pull that drive and fit another one, reinstall XP on the replacement drive, then copy the files off the ‘pulled’ drive.
Thanks yes that is my problem. Appreciate you taking the time to reply though.