HELP!

[Happydude]

sounds like a virus of sorts...try safe mode, like Dyne said.

also, what laptop is it? Dell/Compaq/etc.?

[dropCGCF]

It's a compaq. I believe it's a virus. How do I start in safe mode? Windows doesn't give me a prompt at the loadup screen because the computer thinks it is shutting itself down normally.

[Happydude]

hold down F8 while your laptop is botting up...before you get the XP logo with the scrolling bar at the bottom you should get a screen asking you to start in safe mode and stuff...so try that, and see what happens. if the problem still occurs then it might be a virus or just part of your HDD or part of the windows MBR (master boot record) is partially damaged...you could repair the MBR but there is a chance of losing all your data...if something goes wrong that is.

as for the virus, you're going to have to reformat since you can't use windows and you can't stick in your laptop HDD into your PC to scan it because (i'm assuming) you don't have a converter.