Finally got back to normal today since it wouldn't let me into windows last week... some system32 file missing apparently. After replacing the system32 folder with the original it came up with some password mismatch which totally blocked me from accessing windows, and kept rebooting the system for some weird reason.
Anyway after getting an external box (two cos the original said it wouldn't be here for 2 weeks just after I ordered it, then showed up the day after the second one I ordered), I made a back up of everything onto my external HD, about 80gigs worth... on a USB 1.1 cable, no choice there (argh, 40+ hours of transferring!).
Finishe