Question : Black Screen (mostly), since update to Service Pack 3 (I think)

Trying to fix uncle's computer, from afar
Dell Inspirion 1100 laptop, Windows XP SP2,probably had automatic updates turned on, and probably downloaded SP3, but can't know for sure.  When turned on, it would show XP welcome screen, then desktop, then go black.  Got it to go to the screen that lets you choose "Safe Mode" once by pressing F8, but now it won't.  Putting the system restore disc that came with the computer in will not display "Press any key to boot from C/D".  Oddly enough, when he puts in his AT&T wireless air card, he can very faintly see the box that says "connect".  
    Is this the SP3 black screen of death, or has his display gone bad, or otherwise?  Thanks

  Oh, one more thing.  If the display has gone bad, could he hook up another (external) monitor and retrieve his files, mostly photos that he hasn't backed up in (#$%%&$#$%) two years? Thanks again

Answer : Black Screen (mostly), since update to Service Pack 3 (I think)

I don't know about SP3 as an auto-update. I thought it was being made available in June-July... but could be wrong.

Anyway, you need to make sure that the system is set in BIOS to boot from the CD first. Go into BIOS, and set the first boot device to CD. Save and exit. It will now give him the option to "Press any key to boot from CD". At that point, the restore CD should be able to run.

Whether the problem is caused by an SP3 update or not is moot, if you want to perform the restore. If you want to troubleshoot further, then there is quite a bit that can be tried.

Determine the make and model of the laptop, get the BIOS entry key to tell him, and guide him thru the entry into BIOS. Take it from there.