Everything Gone On Laptop

I'm a little dumbfounded as to what the heck happened so here I am. Last night I went to bed and now a few hours later I am awake, I went downstairs to check my email on my office computer and the screen (my desktop background) was the ONLY thing visible on my laptop. I tried rebooting, I tried unplugging and replugging it back in, etc. To no avail. Now the background won't even show up. I do have a cat and he does tend to step on my keyboard - but the only thing he has ever done was turn the internet off on the laptop.

I hate my laptop lol but I need it! Information you should know:

Windows 7
Laptop
Dell Inspiron piece of crap 1545
I have an external monitor because mine on the Dell blew up
External hard drive - because of problems like this

If anyone has any suggestions, I will gladly follow them. I have had laptops and computers all of my life and I have never had everything just... disappear. It's really weird and I am really just, baffled.