Safe Mode, no desktop icons................

Ok checked search and tried a few things but to no avail so here it is..... I friend in AZ called me with this one. Her laptop (unknown mfg and other particulars) but with XP Home. Says suddenly when booting gets only a blue screen (no words). My thought was a trojan or virus and wanted her to run her security software. Had her go into safe mode. Got there but no desktop icons. only Start and time in task bar. I know this isn't much to go on but not being there I am at a loss of what to try or ask. Any suggestions certainly would be appreciated. She's an echleon 1 user and I sometimes think I'm not much better.

CC