Flibbertigibbet

you can use any linux live cd.
here is a list, i recommend Knoppix.
http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php
and burn on a cd/dvd all of you'rs music and files.

Um.

Great tip. Thanks.

How does that help me start my computer and get my files back, though?

You have a problem with your OS(windows), live cd is an alternative OS that does not need installation.
So after you will run it, it would recognize windows file system, so you can burn your files into a cd/dvd using one of it's included program.

Oooo... Fancy!

I'll give it a shot.

Thanks!

Buy a Mac. And no that doesn't help with your current situation but should for future issues. :)

Actually, my next computer purchase is very likely going to be a Mac. But I don't want to buy a new computer right now.

After you save your files, you could try reformatting your computer.

Keeping lots of real files and folders on the desktop is a well-known way to make Windows crawl. You can put a folder shortcut on your desktop to reach those files more quickly, but the real directory and files should be somewhere in your My Documents folder and not on the desktop.

Aargh, not one helpful suggestion so far! He wants to fix his computer, not switch to Linux!

Hit f8 as it starts up to get the boot menu. Select "last known good configuration." If that doesn't boot, then restart, hitting f8 again and this time try booting in safe mode. If that doesn't do it, then grab your windows CD and attempt to repair your installation. If that fails, you can install windows again over your existing copy and shouldn't lose any data or settings. (You may have to tweak some settings back to your preferences, depending)

In any case, when you get it running, clear your desktop of clutter and run a virus scan and spyware scan. Then run a disk check on your hard drive for bad sectors. Then maybe defragment it. Most likely, it is one of these things that caused the problem and not your operating system. Windows catches a lot of flak for things that are not in fact its fault.

Actually, kavod's suggestion was a very good one; he wasn't saying to switch to Linux, but just to use a Linux boot CD to mount the hard drive and backup important data before messing around with the actual Windows install. Something like the "Ultimate Boot CD" (www.ultimatebootcd.com) could be used for the same purpose.

Alright, sorry, it was a little harsh. It just sounded like he got a Windows bashing session instead of help fixing his problem.

Backing up his files is okay, but kind of a last resort. I would think he would want to try to actually fix his problem first.

And Andrew's suggestion is good, too, just not really an avenue to fixing the problem as such.

I mean if his Ford broke down and he was stuck on the side of the road asking how to get it started again, and people said to him, "Ford sucks; buy a Chevy!" then that would be kind of rude, no?

So what happened, Flib? Does it live... again?

I haven't tried it yet. It's been hot in the apartment and I've wanted to wait until I can make it cool in there again. Right now, it's sitting unplugged waiting for my tender affections.