windows xp home edition-black screen

[dgill]

Turned on computer-went to the screen that gives you the option to boot in safe mode - or last known .....(gives you 4 options) does the countdown to start in normal mode and then goes to black screen with white mouse icon only.  Tried all the other options-Safe Mode etc. with no success.  Have all the disks -M/S Windows xp Home OEM- Microsoft Works Suite 2004 OEM  Norton Antivirus.  My son was the last person to turn computer off the night before-he plays alot of games etc.  Do not really know where to go from here-hopefully do not want to loose everything-Computer is Intel Pentium 4 630-3.00 Ghz - have a whole list of products on receipt when computer purchased-can provide more if requested.   Maybe computer not turned off properly-or something downloaded that shouldn't have been  ? Appreciate any suggestions. 

[Broni]

1. If you have Windows CD, follow the steps from here: http://icrontic.com/articles/repair_windows_xp

2. If you don't have Windows CD...
Download Windows Recovery Console: http://www.thecomputerparamedic.com/files/rc.iso
Download, and install free Imgburn: http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download
Using Imgburn, burn rc.iso to a CD.
Boot to the CD...let it finish loading.
When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
Then, follow the steps from here: http://icrontic.com/articles/repair_windows_xp, starting below this picture on page 1:

[dgill]

hi Broni - firstly thank you for your help - i am a total beginner -thank you
I am going well with your instructions (i do have my  own cd) and now I am at the end bit where I have to decide if my CPU features Intel XD or AMD's NX (need to include NOEXECUTE if it does) I have been searching the web to try to find out if I do.  I have a Intel Pentium 4 630 -3.00 Ghz [800FSB/LGA775/2MB Cache)  Have you got any ideas how I can be sure ? I cant access any information on the computer as I cant boot it up.  I dont really want to continue and just guess that I dont have these features.
Thanks Broni.  Sorry I am a pain.   Deb G

[JJ 3000]

Your CPU is an Intel. It is not an AMD.

[Broni]

need to include NOEXECUTE if it does

It's true in most cases. You won't break anything, if you're mistaken.

[dgill]

thank you - you guys are great !!!!
Have a nice day