My desktop won't launch any programs, after it boots, anything you click on you just get the little spinning circle, I can access my files through safemode but other than that-NADA

Oh and before this, it sounded like an airplane getting ready for takeoff every now and again!

I'm not sure what OS you are running and what version, so if what I tell you doesn't help or is confusing, please let me know what Operating system you are running, for example Windows XP SP2 or SP3, Vista 32 or 64 bit version , and also what Service Pack.

If you can get into safe mode, try using system restore to see if you can jump back a few weeks or months to a date you know when everything was working right. It sounds like a driver is trying to load that is bad, or you have a bad piece of software that is trying to load durring start-up, and that when you go into safe mode, it doesn't load that software. Have you installed anything recently when the problem started, either hardware or software? If you did, most likely it is whatever you recently installed that is causing the problem. The system restore will allow you to go back to before you had this issue and remove any drivers or software that might have been installed causing the problem.

You could also have a hardware problem. The airplane sound is most likely the CD/DVD ROM trying to read a disk. If it's not that, you could have a system fan that is going bad, and it's the bearings making the sound. Can you tell where on the computer the sound is comming from? If it's the CD/DVD drive, the drive itself could be causing the computer to lock up as Windows Explorer can get stuck as it tries and tries to read the drive. If you suspect the CD/DVD ROM, open the case and unplug the power cable and data cable from the drive with the computer turned off. Then boot back up and see if that fixed the problem.

From the info you have given me, this is about all I can speculate. If none of these steps help, please provide me with more information about anything done to the computer recently and specifications of the desktop (how old is it, how much RAM, how many sticks, Processor type and speed, and if it's from a manufacturer, the make and model).

OYE!

I have Vista, but don't know if it is 32 or 64 or even how to check! LOL

I haven't installed any new software or hardware and I don't think the sound is coming from the CD/DVD drive, sounds more inside the computer and does it even when there is nothing in the CD/DVD drive.

The sound you hear then is probably a system fan or the CPU fan. If it's the CPU fan, it may indicate that the CPU is overheating. I would open the side of the case and look inside and see if there is a lot of dust build up. If there is, get a can of compressed air from the PX/BX and clean it out. It may help with the sound problem. If not, your fan may have to be replaced. I do have some spare fans, so make sure you let me know if it is, and I'll make arrangements with you to get one. After all, they are free.

I would still try the system restore and go back a few days before you started having this problem. It's possible that you got a bad update to Windows or another program. The system restore may solve your problem.

OK, so I finally got around to trying to do something with my stupid computer. Oh and I did figure out that it is 32 bit.

I opened it up and blew it out so all the dust bunnies have been evicted.

I went in to safe mode, got all my pics and docs copied to an external HD.

I tried to do a system restore and I get this:

No restore points have been created on your computer's system disk. To create a restore point open System Protection.

The only option I am given from there is Cancel or of course I can click on System Protection but when I do that I have no idea what to do next.

It sounds like system restore was turned off or your system disk was too full to create a restore point. If you got all your data off I would suggest doing a complet manufacturer restore. If you were given restore CDs from the manufacturer then use them, if not you will have to find the right key to press durring bootup to find that option. Most of the time it's the 'F10' key, but it may also be the 'F8", 'F11' or a key combination. This restore will bring your computer back the way it was when you first purchased it so please make sure you get all your data before you proceed.

If you can't figure it out, let me know the model of your computer and I will find out exactly the steps for you to do the manufacturer restore.