Computer starts up, passed Windows screen, but then the screen goes black with cursor, please help

Dear HP,

My computer starts up, goes passed Windows screen, but then the screen goes black and my mouse cursor is usable, but nothing else.   I've tried alt+ctrl+delete and nothing works, ran tests in diagnostics and they all passed, and when I start it up and it gives me the option to start Windows normally or go through system repair, the repair goes to a blue screen and says it cannot find the problem.   I'm using Windows Vista and on the model/serial number on the bottom is:

Pavilion dv5

s/n: {Private Information Removed}

p/n: NV102UA#ABC

Is there anything I can do to fix this problem?  More specifically, I have a lot of pictures and videos on my laptop that I would like to retrieve, is there anyway to access them before a format or is the only solution to format my computer and re-install Windows on it?  I've seen similar posts to this from a google search, but the solutions are all for Windows 7.  One of the solutions was running a rescue CD and inputting commands in the command prompt, is there any way I could do something like that and not have to wipe my hard drive?  I have hooked up my laptop to another monitor and the black screen with my mouse cursor appeared on the other monitor, so that's not the problem.  Also, my cursor is not blinking, if that means anything (I saw problems that contained blinking cursors in my google search).  The solution I found is linked below:

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-Systems-e-g-Windows-8-and-Software/Laptop-screen-stays-black-with-mouse-cursor-only-after-HP/td-p/2579269

and this redirects you to here:

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Lockups-Freezes-Hangs/HP-G72-b66US-Notebook-PC-Dosn-t-Boot-into-Windows/m-p/1336579#M22150

If anyone from HP can help me, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks.