what seems like a major problem with my laptop

ctrl-alt-delete

had deleted a load of stuff off the computer, movie and music files - about 10GB worth - i dont know if this has anything to do with it, but what has happened is the following -

switched on the laptop this morning, windows XP, took ages to get to login screen and then when i logged in the desktop froze.

this happened about 3 times after trying again,

managed to get in in safe mode and done a system restore to 3 days ago which was the last system check point.

Now i can turn on the laptop, it still takes ages to get to login screen, then i login - but its just a blank screen with no icons or anything - originally i thought it was still loading so left it,

when i pressed ctrl-alt-delete there were no applications or anything running - it looks like XP has dissapeared or something?

anybody able to help?

thanks

Sean^DCT4

deleting the files could not have had anything to do with the errors you are having..

Is your anti-virus up to date? If so, boot to safe mode and perform a scan (if your AV software allows that)

Also, have you installed any programs that may have caused errors with the drivers already installed? (System restore should have eliminated that problem though)

ctrl-alt-delete

Sean^DCT4 wrote:

deleting the files could not have had anything to do with the errors you are having..

Is your anti-virus up to date? If so, boot to safe mode and perform a scan (if your AV software allows that)

Also, have you installed any programs that may have caused errors with the drivers already installed? (System restore should have eliminated that problem though)

im running microsoft AV, when i go into safe mode now its the same thing - just a blank screen - no windows? i cant do anything.

i was just mentioning deleting the files because i havnt done anyhting else, like install or delete software - its just a bolt out of the blue!

is there anyway of doing anything in control prompt mode? but im crap at that

Auburn

You could try this:
Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete to get the Task Manager up. Click on New Task at the bottom. Type msconfig - this should bring up the MS configuration utility. Go to Services tab. Tick "Hide All Microsoft Servces" and then click Disable All, go to Startup and click Disable All. Apply and ok. Reboot and see if you have any luck with that.

Otherwise, try explorer from New Task, you may be able to at least back up files and format.

TomCo

Would it be possible to run chkdsk?
I had a simmilar problem a BSOD and chkdsk fixed it.

ctrl-alt-delete

ok ive tried both the above, running msconfig and doing what i asked, after the system rebooted still nothing - there is a lot of processes running but no applications.

also tried chkdsk - it fixed a few errors but im still back with my desktop screen and absolutely nothing else?

anything else i can try!!

Auburn

TomCo wrote:

Would it be possible to run chkdsk?
I had a simmilar problem a BSOD and chkdsk fixed it.

This does not seem (as far as I understand) to be a BSOD. You have what seems like your normal blue desktop except without icons, right?

Were you able to access your files with explorer? Do you have a lot of important data on the laptop?

From what I can see, you have two options here, you can:
1. Do another system restore to a date further back (this has the potential of messing things up further though)
2. Run an XP repair. What kind of Windows disk do you have? Full version or is it a recovery disk?

ctrl-alt-delete

Auburn wrote:

This does not seem (as far as I understand) to be a BSOD. You have what seems like your normal blue desktop except without icons, right?

Were you able to access your files with explorer? Do you have a lot of important data on the laptop?

From what I can see, you have two options here, you can:
1. Do another system restore to a date further back (this has the potential of messing things up further though)
2. Run an XP repair. What kind of Windows disk do you have? Full version or is it a recovery disk?

cheers for that, i had just my wallpaper without any icons yep, i was able to access system restore again through msconfig in the task manager and restored it to an earlier date again. so for now its working.

i do however have a lot of extremely important college work on the laptop, which i am now transferring to dvd's. After i have taken everything i need off the laptop would it be better to wipe the system and start again do you think?

if so whats the best way to do this.

thanks again to everyone who replied