In a matter of hours (and one incredibly ill-advised removal of a system file after a virus scan), my PC has gone from a 2-month old HD with XP to practically unbootable. At times my computer won't load the OS (black screen with a mouse that moves) and sometimes it does, but programs such as AVG and Steam don't work. Google Installer, Windows Search, you name it, my PC has got it.

I've located an XP DVD from another one of my family's PCs (though I'm not sure where the original CD-ROM from the computer is [I somehow lost it in the two months since I last installed XP]) but when I try to boot it at startup, I'm told that the disk is not available. I assure you all that my OS is legal and legitimate; if Microsoft has a problem with using another disk to re-install, I'll go out and purchase a Mac tomorrow.

I can't format my drive, I can't get the DVD to read, I have no system restore points (could this be a virus? I had max memory devoted to restore points, yet I have NONE). I feel screwed. Please help.

-Rick