ok so I have 2 problems, first major problem is a while ago I installed Sabayon linux on my HP, but I didnt see any use for it so I wiped it, but I forgot to uninstall Grub first, so now I always have this annoying grub bootscreen, and in order to boot my pc up I have to type in rootnoverify hd(0,0) then chainloader +1 then make active and then boot. How can I get rid of this?

Second problem, for some reason explorer.exe doesnt boot up anymore on start up so when I log in, it logs me on into a black blank screen and I have to ctrl alt delete and manually start explorer.exe... its really annoying, how can I get it to boot up on start?

Format.

Formatting isnt really an option for me =/

Boot from the windows CD, enter recovery console, run the "Fixboot" and "fixmbr" commands.

If you don't have or can't find the windows CD then the Ultimate Boot CD also has an MBR fixer. It's what I used when I had the same problem.

Also, could you put a shortcut to explorer in the startup folder in the all programs menu. Thats the crudest way I can think of.

I just checked msconfig aswell and I couldn't find explorer in the services so I don't think you can do it that way but I guess it's worth a shot. (Windows Key + R -> 'msconfig')

The only definate way to solve it would be to reinstall. Are you sure you can't back up your files, format and reinstall?

^This

There might be certain windows policies enabled by some virus or just by accident. a simple reinstall will fix most of the things. But if your using SP2 please upgrade to SP3 if your using Windows Xp.

and before someone else says it, try another flavor of Gnu/Linux.

Yeah guys I cant reinstall because my laptop didnt come with a windows disk, it came with some stupid 'backup tool' on a seperate harddrive in the laptop, also I should say im using vista home edition

Seriously? Did you buy it at a shop or a shady market? It should have come with one. If you got it at a shop go and tell them. You could also try torrenting a Vista CD. You have a licence and a Kky so I think it's legal. I don't know the technicalities on this one though...

On a seperate HDD or a seperate Partition?

Hiren's Boot CD

Hiren's Boot CD is my personal preference. Why don't you just torrent that plus a new copy of Windows? That should work great. The tool "Smart F-Disk" on Hiren's Boot CD works great for formatting the hard drive and clearing the master boot record.