PC will not boot up

(Land_of)_Maz

and really i am clueless so hope someone can help.

Essentially when we switch the PC unit on, it begins the start up normally and all looks okay... just normal desk top icons, wireless indicator shows connected.... and if i were to leave it like this, it will sit at this screen indefinitely....

but once i try to open any application, i.e Internet Explorer mainly, it just doesn't like it....

screen flickers between desktop with all icons to same desktop picture with no icons showing... back to full desktop with icons... 10secs maybe and back to no icons at all.....

I can't get anything up at all apart from Task Manager.... which shows nothing running but loads of unknowns to me running on Processes.... I have tried to get to Control Panel (although i dunno what i's do when i get there!!) and it will let me get so far but when the 10second window comes in it reverts to blank desktop... then back to normal desktop.... back to blank desktop and so on.......

The sme thing happens when i get to run... mind you, again i don't know what to say when i get there anyway!

As i can't get near to get any spyware downloaded onto this PC, i wondered if there was a way for me to download spyware of some kind onto a CD which if i inserted it into the drive would be enough to run and maybe clear thru the issue?

I admit to not trying to run anything from up until now, maybe i should see if anything can override it from first??

Does this sound familiar at all to anyone? Or am i goosed?!

I generally use a laptop so can download anything provided it can go onto a USB drive or a disc......... I'm not desperately worried about even keeping the PC but I would be keen to get some things off it PC if possible, so even just a short term fix would help... it's been a while since i backed up photos n stuff.... i know! my bad!!

If i was getting rid of it, i'd like to have cleared it... but that would be help for another day! lol!!

Browntoa

try going into safe mode

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm

and going back to a date when it last worked

Browntoa

if that does not work then try "Safe Mode with Networking" using the method above and try and download Malwarebytes

http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?part=dl-10804572&subj=dl&!!!!!button

install and update it , then do a quick scan and let it delete all it finds

then post the log file it prodeuces back here

Browntoa

this can be downloaded and burnt to a cd on the laptop

http://www.free-av.com/en/products/12/avira_antivir_rescue_system.html

then make sure the PC is booting from the CD by going into bios (normally F2 as the PC boots up ) and making sure the CD drive is the first boot option

guide here

http://www.whitecanyon.com/how-to-change-boot-order.php

(Land_of)_Maz

thanks!

I knew there would be some way of getting into safe mode or DOS screen (?? ) but i just couldn't get it to work for me....

I'll print off your advice thus far and let you know....

This is plenty to be getting on with for a non techie!