Problems with Windows ME

I am having some problems with Windows Me. When I turn the computer on, it goes through the whole show of acting like its getting things started. Then, I get a log on screen (as always) and I press enter (as always - we have no password).... then, I just get a blank screen. It's not blue or black, but tan... the last color of my background when my computer was working. My mouse doesn't work. There are no icons, there is no start menu or toolbar...??? Has anyone had this happen or know why this is happening. I am not terribly computer literate. Even to start in safe mode, it gives me the same exact thing except with the words "safe mode" in each corner. I would really hate to have to reinstall a windows program & lose everything. Is there anyway I could possibly get this working so that I can save some of my stuff & then install XP?

 

You can try to boot in DOS and then use the scanreg-utility to restore an old version of the registry:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=183887