Windows XP Recovery DIsk Problems

[BurntOrangeOrder]

My sis's computer crashed, apparently. Internet Explorer crashed on her, then a pop up message occured telling her to DL updates for Explorer. She said it was from Microsoft (virus maybe?)

Then it said it needed to restart the computer. Now it won't get past the start-up screen.

She tried the recovery disk and it says it can't back up her HD. Why?

If all else fails, any good places to a have her HD recovered and/or computer fixed? She's a grad student so you can guess the budget.

 

[next2naus]

BOO,

in XP she can role back to a last known good log in. beats a NT or w2k style recovery.

 

[BurntOrangeOrder]

Even if she can't get past the start-up screens? How, with the recovery disk?

 

[TexasOwnzYou]

keep hitting F8 before windows starts to load.

it should bring up a menu with choices, including safe mode.