Cannot get beyond 1 st screen on start up

Hi, I installed the latest Safari 3.1 and security update (on 18/03/08) and my Mac worked fine. When I started it today I cannot get beyond the grey screen with the apple logo. I have tried booting holding down the control key and selecting the hard drive icon- but when going via this route- it still hangs.
I have also tried starting with the installation Leopard DVD and trying to repair permissions, but it still hangs. I managed to check the drive and there are 'no errors'. I then connected my back up drive and was going to run time machine. However the list is only showing back ups for 10.5.1 so I would lose any backed up data since February, which I know is on the time machine drive.
So..... can anyone either help me to get my computer up and running via 'normal' procedures/solutions or how to view my time machine back ups since installing 10.5.2? I am posting this from a PC, which goes against the grain. Any help appreciated........
Regards , Tim Barnes.

Hi Able,
Thanks for your suggestion. I had however before reading your post decided to take the bull by the horns and cleaned the disc! I have reinstalled Leopard and then the updates to 10.5.2. I then updated the Safari application (3.1) which I suspect caused the whole problem!
It is still working! I am now gradually building it up to how it was. Lucky I had time machine running, although I have chosen to 'restore' files ad hoc, rather than putting my Mac back to completely how it was.
It seems others are also having the same problem, hopefully the cause will be revealed in due course. My Mac has run perfectly for nearly 2 years until this episode.
Thanks for all your replies, it's great to be part of a supportive and caring Mac community.
Yours,
Tim.

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