TOPIC: Blue screen

Hi you computer techies.
My son's computer went haywire.  Instead of the regular desktop with the icons showing not it is just a blue screen with the bar at the bottom.  When I click the start button, there are no programs available. Every thing is gone of that menu (except adobe reader.)
Because I can't access the programs, I don't know how to restore the computer to an earlier time.
During start up I hit F12 for the boot menu but couldn't find anything there to restore either.
How would I restore windows if I don't have the windows cd?  (windows XP.
Thanks

Bert

Hit f8 a bunch as its starting to try and get into safe mode.

Good to see you around!

Thanks Dominic.  That got me into safe mode.  I selected a restore point and clicked "next" to start the restoring but nothing happened past that.  After clicking, an hour glass showed for a bit but then disappeared. (I checked the help file.  It said that a restore point was selected but I could change my mind until I click "next.")
Is there any way to force the computer to do what it doesn't seem to want to do?  Maybe I will need a cd.

(I will let the hippies know why I haven't been around much.)
Thanks

Hey Bert, Thanx for popping in. Missed you. Hope you're doing good buddy.