My HP a250n boots up to the windows logo, then the screen goes black and stays that way. Hdd continues to spin.

Try this link, looks like you need to repair boot:
http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Lockups-Freezes-Hangs/HP-G72-b66US-Notebook-PC-Dosn-t-Boot-into-Windows/m-p/1336579#M22150

Its going to safe mode every time...actually Safe Mode is for to change any setting or get backup and some more... better to change the OS.. everything will be perfect after taking data backup... i think it will help u....

Apparently your Acer cannot find the operating system. As soon as the Acer logo comes up, there should appear in one of the bottom corners "F" & a number should appear. Immediately start pressing that F number (top row of keyboard). This should take you to a boot screen. Scroll down to boot sequence. Hit enter. Make sure boot-up sequence is CD or floppy drive first, second should be HDD, then escape. Restart computer. Should then boot off CD drive. I am assuming you have an operating system (XP, windows, etc.). Let me know if this doesn't work.

AS YOU ON THE SYSTEM AND EVEN BEFORE WINDOWS STARTS KEEP PRESSING THE F8 KEY CONTINUEOUSLY. A MENU WILL APPEAR. SELECT SAFE MODE AND ENTER. WINDOWS WILL LOAD IN SAFE MODE. THIS WILL SOLVE SOME OF YOUR PROBLEMS. NOW RESTART THE SYSTEM IN NORMAL MODE.

IF THIS DOES NOT WORK SELECT "LOAD WINDOWS WITH LAST KNOWN GOOD CONFIGURATION " AND THEN RESTART. THIS WILL SURELY SORT OUT YOUR PROBLEM.

PLS REPLY OR COMMENT. THANKS

ur unit is overheating turn off and unplug and let cool down,clean vents around fan intake (under unit) and around top each side of keyboard when cool enough plug back in and listen for fan operation while booting up if no fan it may be stuck or burnt up and may need replacement but ur biggest problem will be the hard drive if it was overheated for to long could or is damaged good luck hope ur lucky and that it just got hot

Hi this Alex You can use Ntfs for dos programm which allow you to access ntfs partions on while dos loaded. then you will be able to get you data copied

If your booting to the splash screen ( ACER Logo screen ) then it goes black reboot - access the bios and do a bios hdd test - you mostlily find your hdd has died. Head scrash

It sounds like the hdd has failed. When you try to boot can you hear the hdd attempting to spin up? Best solution if everything else checked out would be to replace the hdd. Hope this helps & please remember to rate my answer. Thanks.

plz try to boot through safe mode, if you can then log in normally.
if you cant boot from safe mode then you have to reload or repair your os.