HP Compaq.. Won't load..

Hello.. computer "noob" here, and my 5-6 yr old HP Compaq laptop has recently started acting up. What happens is that I turn it on, log on, and then nothing in the tray will load.. I can't even open up the task manager. I decide to take out the battery just to test it out, and a few icons load up, but still the same problem. I haven't done anything to warrant me getting a virus, or anything. I even turned on my laptop in safe mode, and did a virus scan with Panda with no virus or anything popping up (I don't know if that would work though).

However, to open up Panda internet security in safe mode I had to open up the application by going to all programs in start.