Here's my problem:

Turn on laptop and get black screen with message offering my choice of start up options: 3 versions of safe mode, last known working configuration, and "normally." No matter which one I pick, I get a blue screen that flashes by quicker than you can blink. All I've been able to tell is that it wants me to check my system for viruses.

I would gladly do that but I can't get past this mess! I have my start up disks so I can reformat the hard drive, but I've got about 2G of personal files that I don't want to lose. I got plenty of CDs to back that info up with, but (1) I can't figure out how to access those files and (2) I'm worried they could be infected and I'm just reinfect my system when I tried to transfer them back.

Is it possible for me to get rid of this virus AND save my files?

Any help would be UBER-appreciated!