help with pc Options

[SiN_CeLi]

My girlfriend has a laptop running windows XP and when we try to turn the computer on it goes to the start up screen and then won't take us to the desktop screen . I try restarting in safe mode and a couple of other modes but no matter what it won't go past the start up screen. I am pretty much computer illiterate so any help will be much appreciated.

[soulshadow]

Instead of going into safe mode. I believe there is another option when you boot up. Instead of doing anything choose the option that lets you boot into MSDOS, (I think it was like sumthing such as "running commands, or anyway) It should show you a black screen with sumthing like "c:/windows/blah/blahblah" (replace blah with other commands). Now run (without the "" marks) "chkdsk /f c:" and hit the "Y" key. Now restart your machine and let the process work itself out. IF this does not work than toss that piece of crap out the window and get a new one.