Problems started with just a blank screen, not a blue screen. Two different errors I got were "ntoskrnl.exe corrupt or missing" ( that's probably misspelled) and "hal.dll missing or corrupt". I re-installed the "ntoskrnl" but when trying to re-install the "hal.dll" it said it could not do it.
Now when I boot up without the startup CD, it tells me Windows had a problem starting and to choose a startup mode. No matter what I choose ( Safe Mode, Last Known..., or Start Normally) it always comes back to the same page. First it puts a row of about 1/2 inch tall vertical lines at the bottom of the screen which fills in to a solid line and then goes back to the sme page.
Don't want to lose the info on the hard drive by reformatting. I homeschool but in a act of thoughtlessness bought a used laptop that does not have a CD-R drive just a CD drive.
All help is greatly appreciated.