Computer wont start

[Karoline]

I have a problem with my desktop pc.. Since yesterday it will not start, i have no idea what has happened , it just wont start. When i asked my bro what he done to it lol (he always seems to do something), he said he just switched it on and it doesn't start. Goes straight to the screen that says start in
safe mode etc.. Here is a pic

No matter which option i select the computer will restart and go straight back to the same screen.
Before it re-boots it flashes up a blue screen, but it does not stay on long enough to see what it says.. .
Can someone help me.. I haven't done anything to my pc, so i dont understand why it is broken..

[headsortails]

See if you can just get a glimpse of what it says on the blue screen.

*EDIT* I had this prob a few days ago but without the blue screen - the following worked.

[headsortails]

Nicked from a google search -

Assuming you have an actual XP CD as opposed to recovery CD, try a repair
install as follows:
NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to start
over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed up,
you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

[gunner]

Could be a hard drive issue. You need to set it to boot from CD and put in an Xp or whatever o/s you are running in the drive. Then select repair when it boots from cd and run chkdsk and a few of the other apps and see if that helps it.

We you do get into XP I would do a system restore.

[headsortails]

There were some good HD tools in the downloads section.

[Karoline]

Just to let you know, when i select start windows normally this is when i get the blue screen then it reboots, when i use a different option it just reboots..

The error It is so fast i cant really see it..

A problem has been ..

.. boot_volume

If this is the first time...

Check and make sure...

And that is all i saw.. Sorry

Btw, i have not got the xp pro disc. My cousin installed it for me, with his disc.. I only have the xp home disc at home..

[headsortails]

The XP disc should (maybe) allow you to run the diagnostic HD tools.

[Karoline]

So what are the diagnostic HD tools i should be running?

[gunner]

There was a boot cd called Hiren's iirc, that has loads of apps.

I would run chkdsk - as stated earlier.

[headsortails]

As Gunner says run chkdsk as a start - it will give you results on the HD structure.

[Karoline]

When i put in the cd, then go to boot menu and boot from disc drive d (where the cd is), it just loads straight back to the black screen with safe mode.. etc

Is my computer buggered?

[4me2]

A long shot but try changing the battery on the mainboard.

[chubblies]

When i put in the cd, then go to boot menu and boot from disc drive d (where the cd is), it just loads straight back to the black screen with safe mode.. etc

Is my computer buggered?

That is the boot order-Go into the BIOS, it should say enter F12 to enter setup when you turn on the pc or something similar, enter the setup then change the boot order so that the CD drive is the 1st thing it tries to boot to

[Karoline]

Ok, now i have sorted that , i need the correct disc.. I only have the sp2 disc that microsoft sent me or the xp home.. I have xp pro.. Will any of these work.. If not, then i will just buy another xp pro disc.. Cheaper than buying a pc..

[chubblies]

Try the xp home disk, most of the files should be the same as home is the same as pro with a few features disabled

[gzotonic]

if you can get a friend with another pc - swap the hard drive into that (make sure you change jumpers to make the HDD a "slave". You should be able to browse your files to retain your data (if not already backed up).

To be honest, I reckon you need to format your hard disk and reinstall the os to fix the issue. But try the above to get your data back.

[Mario87]

My dad has this exact same problem on with his Toshiba lappy, ended up reformatting! But we were able to recover his data by using a 2.5" HDD USB caddy!

[Karoline]

Ok, i put the disc

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

But it does not go to this ^, it goes straight to the black screen again.. Cant seem to get anything to work...

[chubblies]

Sounds fairly fucked in that case- If you have set in bios to boot from disk 1st, and it is not even doing that, it sounds pretty terminal.
Might be worth trying a different cd drive just in case yours is goosed, also double check the bios settings to ensure the cd drive is set as the 1st boot device. Failing that gawd knows!

[Karoline]

Ok, if i did this right...

Let me know..

I pressed f2 to setup and went to boot, then set cd drive as first, then i saved an exited. I then pressed my pc on again with the cd in, and it went back to the black screen, is this right, or is there something else i should be doing?
If it is not good, i will just have to take to my cousin who will fix it for me..