SP3 installed-get error when signing in!

I am trying to log into Windows. It will allow me to enter my password, and is accepted, but immediately after my password acceptance, I get the error message. The blue screen says nothing, it's just blue. The same thing (except for the blue screen) happens in safe mode, except the screen goes blank after the
OK. Luckily I have a laptop, but unfortunately my printer is hooked up to the computer that is locked up! Thanks for AnY help you can provide!

Thank you for the further information. I have a clearer picture now. But it is a strange one.

Firstly, about the printer. If you have a laptop and if you have the software for the printer, can you simply unplug the printer connection lead from the Desktop and plug it into the laptop? You may need to install any printer software first.

Blue screen on load up, but no error messages on the screen. Hmm.

For your information this is what I meant by a BSOD, (Blue Screen of Death); http://www.pcstats.com/articleimages/200409/BSOD_2.gif but you are saying your blue screen is nothing like that. There are many different messages available on these BSODs.

A question. When you have entered your password and hit Enter, does Windows attempt to load, or do you get that blank blue screen immediately? Also, when the blue screen displays, can you see your mouse cursor, and if so, can you move it around the screen?

If you can see the cursor and it can be moved, it makes me wonder if there s some trick being played on you. I can set a desktop display such that it has a plain blue screen, no icons, and the Taskbar is hidden.

So, two tests for you to try please;

1] Use the mouse to hover down the bottom of the screen. Does the Taskbar pop up? Or does the cursor change to a vertical double arrow? If the latter, hold down the left button and 'drag' upwards to see if the Taskbar pulls up.

2] Can you press CTRL+ALT+Del together? This should normally start the Task Manager

If neither of those work, then back to the Safe Mode list of options and try the "Last Known Good Configuration" option. See if that restores XP to when it last worked.

If 'that' fails, then frankly it is not looking good. We have methods to try and copy off personal files from a hard disk when the OS is not accessible, but to fix the OS this will either need a "Repair Install" or a complete "Reinstall".

Mark

Windows does load, that is when the error message appears. The cursor does still move on the blank, blue screen but does not appear as a double arrow when moved to the bottom (or top or sides). Ctrl-alt-del does absolutely nothing, and I already tried the safe mode last Known good Configuration. The desktop is a Dell, approx 6 yrs old. The only major items on it are some pictures. I did think about the laptop earlier, thanks, at least I should be able to print.

They were worth asking about, but I feel your options are now very limited to what I said before, either a repair install or a complete new install.

A Dell Desktop, about 6 years old and I'm guessing Dell did not supply any XP Setup or Drivers CDs, so that rules out a "Repair Install", but I bet instead Dell added a hidden Recovery Partition on the hard disk which you access soon after turning the system on, but that will return the system to factory condition and that

Mark

and that is the same as a fresh install.

Mark