windows xp not displaying after log in

hi im new here and i need help with my computer .. im not sure if its a windows xp problem or hardware so ill try here first  .. anyways my problem is, when i start my computer, and go through all loading process to the log in page for windows xp, i hear a beep. never heard it before but anyways, I log into my account. so it takes a few mins more than usual, I log in, and i see nothing but the blue screen for my background, no icons are displaying, no programs are running, nothing... please help me  

re-boot pc and keep tapping the f8 key...either chose last good config or chose safe mode....any improvements..

well... i didnt really understand how to get into safe mode.. but it made me think of going to bios and use default settings.. either way.. you are my hope god!  

no need to touch the bios settings in this case...a corupt driver and wav start up file can cause this...ok..