Can't boot into XP Pro SP2 past the logon screen, it goes dark. This
isn't the graphics issue that can do that, I already had that and this
isn't it.
Some history - I tried booting into safe, safe was fine. I ran chkdsk
in safe, or asked it to run on next boot rather, now I can't get into
safe either.

If I boot into normal etc. I get chkdsk running all the way through.
It finishes, reboots, says the disk's fine (phew!) and hangs.

If I try to boot into safe then it hangs after press "esc to not load
SPTD.EXE"

I have a boot thingy with FreeDOS on it, that won't run either so I
can't get to my files (sob!). I get error message PANIC mcb chain
corrupted.

Not too healthy, I'm thinking.

What do we think then, team, do I have to go for some kind of Windows
repair, get the XP CD out and hit repair, or maybe download that
recovery console microsoft have got, burn that onto something and try
it?

I'd welcome any advice. It might be of note that some weeks back I
installed a new graphics NVIDIA card and that the day the machine went
wrong was the hottest day of the year, humid etc. Um. I'm wondering if
some goodies aren't damaged in there. Mind, chkdsk does say
encouraging things about the disk so maybe not...

Many thanks,

BB