Ive just opened my brandnew Dell Inspiron running Vista Basic. I browsed through the various menus for a while then my machine seemed to get stuck seaching for the 'sytem info' menu.  As i was in a hurry I went to the start menu and chose 'Log off' , but this seemed to freeze too, so I just closed the lid to the laptop and left it. 

 

When I came back several hours later it booted up as normal but then went to the 'Logging off' screen and stayed there.  Nothing i did (tried Ctrl/Alt/Del) will shift it from the 'Logging off' screen.  Even after closing the lid so it powers off, then opening again just returns me to the logging off screen.

 

Can anyone help?

(This is my first time using both Vista and Laptops)

 

edit: UPDATE.  Now the computer won't start up at all.  The only sign of life are the two little LEDs showing that the machine is on.  Does this sound terminal?