I think it's more than that John, I have been trying different things all day but no joy. If I click the windows key on its own it does nothing, I found I can get the "run" panel if I click windows-R and then get the control panel up by typing the words in.

However the bad news is that I cannot get any sound at all, the printer will not work and I cannot install it again 'cos it comes with"the print spooler service is not running" in fact when I get to the hardware window it is completely blank, so I think I am now in serious trouble.

Sometime ago I remember something about somehow getting through safe mode to a repair window of some sort, but I think I will have to give up and pay a fortune to some local "expert".

I've tried for two days now and I am really at the end of my tether.

Thanks for your help though, at least the"clean boot" thing got me back to here.