Andrea i think your laptop will be a bit like mine, there are 2 things you can do, return the laptop to the best known ok working time, or wipe the hardrive, but the 2nd one is only really done as long as you save current dats 1st, unless there is nothing you will miss beforehand, you would loose anti virus unless you have a cd with it on, these laptops have built in recovery sections but once you start it there is no turning back. you can still use a computer in safe mode but you are limited to its use i had this trouble once, how long have you had the laptop and have you the user guide.