Spaz... can you explain exactly what you get when you boot up? I think you said something about Word, but that's not an operating system is it???

When booting up, does F8 bring up any new window?

Don't worry too much... I "lost" my entire C drive once and techies brought it back... easy for them, and then I learned but forgot...older computer....

Do you have any operating disks that came with the computer? If it's windows xp you have a disk for back up already I think.