Weird symbols at bootup

[Packin]

I turned on my laptop today and it checked through the memory OK etc, but when it was time to load windows xp a few (7-8) random symbols appeared in the upper left hand corner of the screen. Does anyone know what this means? Is my harddrive corrupt? Thanks,

-Packin-

 

[natto fire]

So it made it all the way through POST?
Have you tried starting in safe mode? Usually a corrupt MBR will give the message NTLDR missing. Never seen random symbols, but it doesn't sound good. Not sure how to reset CMOS on a laptop, but that might be worth a try.
You could also get a LiveCD and test the memory from that. I know these suggestions are kind of all over the place, but the symbol thing is weird, and Windows loading problems are usually consistent (after it reads from the MBR).