One day i was online in my laptop and the webpage i was on was not responding so i closed it but then later i could not get online for some reason so i figured why not shut down the comp and start again, well i did that but the proplem is that it stayed on the part that says- windows is shuting down- for like 20 min, i had alot of stuff 2 do so i just shut it down manualy by the power button, but then when i tryed getting back on i noticed that the loading part when it says windos xp and its loading, took alot longer then usual, and then when i got 2 the main page where all the icons are supposed 2 be the only thing there was the background of the comp, i  even left it there for exactly 30 min and the screen was still showing the background no icon,no start toolbar, no NOTHING so then i went on safe mode and restarted the comp a couple times and tryed it out but still nothing, so i want 2 know what 2 do???

windows home EDITION its not a virus a WEEK ago i ran a virus scan i dont know what u mean with os legal windows

if i where 2 do a system restore how could i back up a program i absolutly need 2 have1) specs for the laptop?

2) what version of XP (home or pro?)

3) when was the last time you ran virus, spyware, adware scans?

4) is your os a legal version of xp?
YES you need to post the specifics on the machine, version of Windows and what kind of CD you have. Is it a real, shiny Windows CD that says MICROSOFT on it or a restore CD and what does it say on it?

Can you boot to safe mode (F8 at start) and do a system restore to a point before this started?

See below.When it starts up and there is nothing but the background...

1. Hit CTRL-ALT-DEL
2. (if the task manager shows up) in the File menu click "New Task"
3. Type in "explorer.exe" (no QUOTES) and see if it comes back.

If so, something wrong with the startup running windows explorer.