[Margaret Pilkington]

Thank you Ryewolf for your comprehensive post.

I do not have the Windows 7 disc....the computer came with it already loaded, but I checked to make sure it was genuine when the machine came(it was a refurbished machine) and I have had my money's worth out of it....5 years or a little more.

I had considered them...and that is probably what will happen.
I looked for the repair option...it did not come up.
I also went into f12 for boot options. (This all makes me sound like I know what I am doing...but I just fly by the seat of my pants)

I figure that if is is well and truly fried, then I am not going to do anymore damage

I tried the f8, but maybe I did not do it for long enough.
I also sought out some fixes on You Tube.....I pride myself on being unflusterable(not sure if there is such a thing...or such a word) but I have to say that yesterday I was flustered.
The power going off was the first thing.....my other half always calls me to sort out such things.

So to come back and find myself with a black screen was the final straw.

It is fate telling me that I should back up my stuff every week. I started out well, but got sloppy.
It is the design stuff that is the biggest loss....and I write personal verses for my cards....there were lots of them on there.
Not that I use the again, but sometimes I use them for inspiration. Ah well
Watch this space