I can help!
Your money is "yours", it just isn't being listed in your wallet because as you say, your wallet is having trouble updating... That's OK! You can access it in other ways, such as an online e-wallet:
First, we need to get your "private key":
Close bitcoin completely, then
Open control panel, select "large icons" in the top right corner
Click "folder options", or if you are opening it from the start menu, just click "folder options"
Click the "view" tab
under "hidden files and folders", click "show hidden files and folders and drives"
Deselect "hide extensions of known file types", this will allow you to see the bitcoin working folder
press OK
right click the start button and click "open windows explorer"
doubleclick "local disk (c:)" under "my computer"
doubleclick "users"
doubleclick "yourusername" eg "john"
doubleclick "appdata"
doubleclick "roaming"
doubleclick the "bitcoin" folder
(this is for Windows 7, for XP the directory is C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application data\Bitcoin (XP))
right click an empty area in the folder and select "new">"text document"
doubleclick the new text document
type the following 2 lines into the empty text document:
rpcuser=someusername
rpcpassword=somepassword
replace someusername and somepassword with anything (you don't have to remember it later) so button mashing udhf9w8dg98rgu will work (no spaces)
"file">"save as" type "bitcoin.conf"
press save
Right click the start button and click "open windows explorer"
doubleclick "local disk (c:)" under "my computer"
doubleclick "program files(x86)"
doubleclick "bitcoin"
hold shift and right click on "daemon"
click "open command window here"
type "bitcoind"
leave that window open,
Wait 2 minutes for the daemon to load
Don't close the window
Go back to the explorer window, and again,
Hold shift and right click on "daemon"
Click "open command window here"
If your wallet is encrypted, go to A then proceed to B if not go straight to B
- replace 1YourBitcoinAddress1234567890 with the address where you withdrew the money to. You will get a long string of numbers. Leave this window open...
Upload the private key to a managed service
Goto blockchain.info
click "wallet" at the top
click "start a new wallet"
sign up for a new wallet
once your new wallet is created, log in to it.
go to the tab that says "import/export"
press "continue" at the warning
where it says "import private key", type the long string of numbers EXACTLY from the black window
press "add private key"
Your wallet is now managed online.
closely related to Cannot access my bitcoins because my wallet is still synchronising. What can I do to retrieve them?
– Murch – 2015-08-20T12:01:49.4935Welcome to Bitcoin.SE! I removed comments relating to you paying others for their help. On StackExchange people should be motivated to answer questions because they are interested in the field, not because they are offered some money. I suggest editing your question listing what OS you use, and what you attempted. – goodguys_activate – 2012-10-02T04:29:13.927
I would suggest that the method suggested by Chris Moore (using MtGox) would be the best option if you have a MtGox account. If not, contact someone (trusted) with MtGox account and send them your wallet.dat file. I have not used this feature yet but if it really works as mentioned, it will definitely be the simplest method for you. – Jus12 – 2013-01-02T07:20:13.213