Windows XP wont start up properly

Hello everyone

I am using a 7 year old compaq desktop. The thing has been a tank throughout the years, surprisingly.

Yesterday i left my computer on all night, and let it go to sleep, like i usually do.
However, today when i tried to wake it up all that my monitor showed was my desktop background; no start menu or desktop icons, nothing. The only way i was able to use the internet was to ctrl/alt/delete and start a new task. This works for starting up some programs (i still haven't figured out the correct names for most), but i'd like to restore my computer to its previous working state.

Side Notes: I dont have a windows boot/start-up disk. Also, the other day i was infected with the brontok.A worm which i thought i had removed, but it showed up again two days ago. I remember being infect by brontok a long while ago on another machine but i was able to effectively remove it. And in both cases this never happened to my computer; i'm not sure if brontok has anything to do with this. i'd like to know what i can do to fix my desktop thanks for your time everyone!

 

Hi Razor

Welcome to the BBS!

See if you can enter Safe Mode (hit F8 on boot before any windows screens).

If sucessful then get back to us and we will offer steps to fix the issue!

Mike