Hi! I have a bad problem, I hope some of you can help me with. When I tried to start my computer one day, out of the blue, it refused to load Windows. I got the start up image (black background, windows logo), but it never loaded the page where I usually log in with my username and password to the system. I just got a black screen. Then I tried to restart the computer, but then I got an error message - the screen where I get to choose between starting the computer in a safe mode, or with the configuration I had when I last loaded WIN XP successfully etc. I have tried every option, but the same always happen: The screen gets all black and empty. Then I tried to boot with the CD, and used the repair option. Everything seems to be working smoothly, the computer restarted, and I got a screen image up where it stood setup resuming....... (or something like that). And then - what a surprise - the screen turned BLACK! What on earth am I dealing with here? The last program I downloaded was DC ++, and I might have tried to download a movie (not copywritten, of course....).. Is it a virus? Thanks in advance for all help!

What kind of machine and did you download SP2?

I'm sorry I don't know what kind of machine I have. A friend of mine built it just a few months ago. It has 120 GB harddrive, 525 (i think) RAM.... If it's important, I can find out. I don't think I dowloaded SP2 either. I installed some of files XP recommended me to, but that was definetly not today - when the machine stopped working. Thanks a lot for answering, by the way. I'm kind of desperate her, as I need my computer tomorrow.

I hope you have a couple hours to deal with this. You problably have to do a system repair. Boot from the xp cd and go to the install menu and select the "repair the existing installation". You won't lose any data except ALL the xp updates. You will have to reinstall them. Be sure the firewall and A/V are active before going to the net for the updates as you will be susceptible to the sasser and msblaster worms. If you don't want SP2 go to autopatcher.com for SP1. and download and save. then run it.

Thanks a lot, but this didn't solve the problem. The thing is that after I did the system repair, the machine restarted (like it should). Then I came to a screen shot that said setup resuming..... And then the screen turned black again. Something is trying to prevent me from accessing Windows at all costs. NM