[Margaret Pilkington]

Thank you both for your responses.
I am running on windows 7 professional.
I cannot access any files because although the starting Windows screen does appear briefly, it is soon replaced by the black screen with just the cursor.
I have access to a MacBook and my iPad.
If the machine does prove to be terminal, then I will have to accept the loss of my design files....and just have to do them again.

I really, really should have learned my lesson from the past ...and backed up my files.