problem getting into xp login

[sup3rcarrx7]

My friend is having some problem with his computer right now. He said that his computer started to slow down alot and then he shut it down for a couple of minutes. After that, he tried logging back into xp and typed his password and stuff but once he typed that in and pressed enter, the computer froze at loading default settings or something like that. He tried this 3 times already and i haven't come up with a conclusion yet for the problem. Could you guys help me out? Thanks.

[sixf00t4]

any errors? can he get into save mode? any strange noises?

[sup3rcarrx7]

He's kidn of a normal computer user. Doesn't know how to get into those places. If i try to explain it to him, he may get confused and mess it up even more. But to get into safe mode, you just hit one of the F buttons on startup when loading XP and then you choose Safe Mode right?