update.......finally able to get back to desktop last night......by pressing SHIFT while booting up. Not sure if it was coincidental or that was the trick. Had to reconfigure background settings......good to go again. HOWEVER, this morning after activating from screensaver, the blue screen came back but this time, it was more like a 'transparent' blue screen. i can still see the desktop but 'faintly'........I am really at a lost!!!!

kate.