Now I’m no rookie, but I’m no guru either, but this problem will stomp even pc veterans. What is wrong: computer goes straight into BSOD before loading windows. What caused it: I went to "start" >> "run" >> "msconfig" then "safeboot" now it goes straight to the BSOD and its says video driver failed to initialize. What’s funny is that I can run other software programs just fine (like windows repair/recovery software) and the video is just fine. I’ve even ran Ubuntu over it just to see if the video works and it does. But this is the kicker, Dell wont even help because the laptops’s out of warranty as of two years ago, I know I can do a fresh install, but I’m trying to save all my pics, music, movies etc…So my question is this: how do you return it to normal mode if you can’t boot windows, what boot software can I obtain to troubleshoot/repair from outside windows, or how to get into Windows period, I can handle it from there, just gotta get in.

P.S. BSOD=blue screen of death (if you didn’t know that then maybe this question isn’t for you to try and answer…but go for it anyhow 😉
Thanx Kobra, but I know the ram is good. Steve, I thought of fixmbr, but I was afraid of the warning it gives me about partitions may not being accessable later. However i did mention the error message on bsod(video driver failed to initialize.) DJ maxx I recall seeing that option before, but neve had a chance to use it. I have a "Super XP" disk so I’m pretty sure I can copy, but if I use Steve’s method and it does render my partitions useless, can I still install windows as you’ve indicated to retrieve my data, then format and install once I’m finished? (and Steve when I start to run fixmbr, it does say: "This computer appears to have a non-standard or invalid mbr" so you may be onto something. I’m just being so cautions, because this isnt my computer, I’m fixing it for a friend, otherwise I’d just play around with everything.