BleepingComputer.com: Do I need to do a reintall of the OS and if so HOW?!

I have a Mini Netbook and nothing happened really other than it slid down from my lap but I caught it before it crashed on the floor. I have been having major issues with the power cord, specifically the little balck connector that fits in the comp. It's been damaged I tried to buy another one, couldn't find one that fit so ended up jimmying the original one with tape but have been having false contact issues ever since. Nonetheless I've been making do for about a year now. Lately an odd thing happened, the batttery seems to not "take over" if the power source is removed. So if I change rooms, unplug, the whole thing goes down. But again, I've been making do like that for the past 3 or 4 months. Yesterday the laptop slid off my lap but I caught it before it hit the ground. However that seemed to yank on the power cord and it went black again. I'm use to that, so I just rebooted as usual but this time Windows won't start. I end up no matter what I do on the "Safe mode etc" sceen (the one that says the apppologize but Windows didn't start successfully)... and I cannot start in any of the proposed modes....it invariably goes back to that screen. I do have an external drive so I could reinstall the OS (XP Home Ed.) but I'm not sure if I'm supposed to do anything before I do that....

THANKS!!!!

You may have shorted out a component on the motherboard when the second slip happened causing this boot error. I would take it a trained repair man.

...thanks...will do.