Computer problem

[lizzydrippin]

Ive just had a call from a friend of mine asking if I can help her find whats wrong with her computer. ( Which will be like the blind leading the blind). She says that after switching on everything happens the way it normally does right up to the point where she has her screen with all the various icons there on the left hand side as expected, but when she then gives a demand, whether it be clicking on to favourites or clicking on to 'my computer' etc etc the whole screen suddenly goes completely white with the cursor point and the egg timer on it and nothing else. From that point on no commands or requests will work, nothing else will happen, just the white screen with point and eggtimer. She's tried all the basic stuff, like re-booting and checking connections and we're both too computer novices to attempt anything else. Any ideas? Cheers

[pug100]

Hi, does the computer sound as if it's busy doing anything if the hard drive is busy you can sometmes hear it scanning away. Most PCs have an led that also flashes as the hard disc searches for all the files etc needed for Windows - when the PC freezes does the led still flash or does it stop.
How long does your friend give the PC to sort itself out and how does you friend get out of this state does she just switch it off or press a reset button.
How old is the PC what is the spec (memory size and hard drive size ) and which make /model is it.

[lizzydrippin]

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer, after trying to contact the friend with the computer for the last few days with no success, I finally received an e mail from her this morning saying................
hi toni, yes i'm back on pure luck, the start icon is on the right hand side of the picture instead of at the bottom who cares as long as it works. pauline. by theway how is your one now.
So Ive sent her your 2 replies in the event of her computer having a second wobbler. Cheers, ps Ive also sent her an answerbank link for her to ask her own questions!