I have a laptop problem. My windows fails to start.

It started when I chose to Restart the laptop.
When it attempts to start windows, on the blank screen there white words saying the 'windows failed to successfully start...may caused by changes in the hardware/software...unexpected restart...reset button/power button"

Followed by options, ‘safe mode, safe mode with networking, safe mode with command prompts, most recent settings and start windows normally’
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I attempted all options. The only thing then happened is there was a small blue screen (with white words)for a split second as if there is a corruption. And immediately restarts the laptop.
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Please can you help me fix this problem, or at least how can I retrieve my files from the laptop.
i'd like to retreive all my file out of the laptop.
PLEASE HELP

i selected that "Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer",
after that step,
it's asking me for a username and password, what should i do?

(i'v tried "user", says in red "incorrect username etc")
(iv tried my windows login username & password)

i'v tried "ubuntu" but the same thing happens when i had blank username, it goes to a plain coffee colour screen, then a minute later go to a blank screen with only a mouse pointer, nothing else happens.

hmm, the above attempts (yesterday) were the latest version 8.10.

today i tried the previous version "ubuntu-8.04.1-desktop-i386.iso"
it didnt ask for username,
but after the "Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer", it went to the same coffee screen, then there was a small (1/4 screen size) grey square and a background picture of a colourful bird.
the screen seems to frozen because i cant move the mouse, and the CD drive keeps running
i did wait but this continued (still screen + cd running)

any suggestions? or alternative to take files out of the hard drive?

(may be a silly question, should i install ubuntu?)