Thanks for the help in advance I switched windows on one day to find the desk top took ages to load up and the icons took about 30 seconds to load on to the blank screen desktop. The taskbar had changed colour to plain cream. It would not then let me connect my broad band (service provider said it was computer). It will not allow me to get in to system restore and i have tried CHKDSK /p & /r in xp repair. it will not allow me to access the help and support bit, i have virus checked it, and tried disabling firewall and virus software and tried last known good bootup etc. I have checked in event log and have a few errors ftdisk one of them but loads of DCOM errors. Please help as i have tried everything io know and am lost. DAN

XP Repair Install sLLs

Login as safe mode, check for virus, spyware.

have tried that no virus on there and i have spybot and adaware which i check regularly any other ideas? DAN

Try the repair install as LL suggested. You shouldn't lose anything but the MS updates.

will it allow me to keep my docs and kazza folders and all my other docs? DAN

"will it allow me to keep my docs and kazza folders and all my other docs?" Yes, however the best policy is to have your important data backed up. As JohnO, already stated, after the repair, pay a visit to MS Updates. sLLs