Blank Windows 7 Desktop After Crash

Hi;

My freind closed the lid on his Windows 7 64 Bit Sony Vaio Laptop thinking it would safely go into hibernation. When he reopened his laptop everythoing was frozen and the only option he had was to power the machine off by pressing and holding down the power button.

Now when he switches back on all he gets is a nice Windows 7 background blue with a dove and a mouse pointer, nothing else.

CTRL ALT DEL does nothing and the HDD light is off.

I have tried booting into normal mode, safe mode, and repair mode and all end up with the same screen. There are no peripherals attached.

He tried to carry out a backup using his Backup Discs that he created iaw Sony's instructions however it only got to disc 1 of 3 and just ended up with the same Windows 7 background sceen and a mouse pointer.

What are his options, is there anyway of getting into System Restore and how can he carry out a repair if the self made back up discs no longer work (he has used them a couple of weeks ago to resolve a separate problem and they worked).

Golden said:

Is this an OEM version of Windows?

Its whatever was supplied with his Sony Vaio, I guess it is, the Laptop is only 6 months old