computer won't start

[misstexgal]

I'm not really sure if this is the specs of my computer or this is what you need, I'm really stupid when it comes to all this, but here I go.  This is a home built computer from a friend that worked at IBM. 

Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.00 GHz
CPU Speed 3.00 GHz
CPU Bus Speed 800 MHz
System Memory 512 MB
Memory Speed 333 MHz
Windows XP Office Pro

My problem I am having is that my computer  will not boot up.  I was playing a game and the computer froze up and had to push reset button to restart.  There is a message that comes up that states:

If your computer stopped responding, restarted unexpectedly or was automatically shut down to protect your files and folders choose Last Known Good Configuration to revert to the most recent settings that worked.

If previous start up attempt was interrupted due to a power failure or because the power or reset button was pressed, or if you aren't sure what caused the problem, choose Start Windows Normally.

Other choices are:
Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

I can click on the first 2 choices and it will act like it is going to load, but ends up coming back to this screen.

I click on other 3 choices and starts showing a bunch of stuff that I do not understand and comes back to this screen.

I tried to use a XP Office Pro disc that I got from a friend, but it does not recognize this and returns right back to this screen.

I am hoping that this can be fixed without losing all of my stuff.  I do want to wipe everything out later, but need to get some things off of there first.

Hope to be hearing from you guys soon.....Thanks in advance

[Broni]

It looks more like hardware problem.
Try to re-seat RAM, video card.

[misstexgal]

Thanks for the fast reply.  But really don't know what you mean by re-seat my ram.  Could you please explain?  I went in and cleaned all of the dust out and now it's making alot of noise.  I think I might of screwed something up, because it started beeping and now I have a black screen.  Please help. 

Same screen has showed it's ugly little face again.  Not so much noise now.  But will patiently await for your reply.

Thanks Again!

[Broni]

I went in and cleaned all of the dust out

Using what? I hope, not vacuum cleaner....Always use a can of compressed air.

Take a closer look. Can you locate a source of that noise?

As for re-seating RAM:

[misstexgal]

yes, I used compressed air,  I learned about how to clean it from another post here.   I do not have a video card, but I did re-seat the ram.  No noise now.  But the same screen comes up.  Is there anything else I can do???  I really need my computer, it has everything on it.  I have a data base that I really need to get off of there.   But will understand if I can't.  Please help.

Thanks in advance.

[Broni]

Do you have Windows XP CD?

[misstexgal]

Since my ex-friend built this computer and didn't give me any software to go with it.  Another friend gave me all of her old software, because she upgraded to Vista.  But it's from Gateway.  But it has windows XP Home Edition OS.  Also, another friend gave me XP Office Pro.  Will any of these work?

Thanks again!

[Broni]

No. You need Windows XP CD to perform repair install.
It has to be same XP version with very same Service Pack, as installed on your computer.
You may try to borrow one.

[misstexgal]

First off, thanks for getting back with me...I don't think there was a service pack added.  Ok, if I am unable to find anyone with a Windows XP CD that I can borrow, what's my other option?

[JXY]

since you've installed xp pro on your machine, you'll have to borrow an xp pro disc, or find one which is as updated, or more updated than your currently installed OS. eg, same service pack or higher.

I click on other 3 choices and starts showing a bunch of stuff that I do not understand and comes back to this screen.

what does it say? can you give us an idea?

I am hoping that this can be fixed without losing all of my stuff.  I do want to wipe everything out later, but need to get some things off of there first.

you could do a clean install of xp pro or home on another partition (if you have one).

once you can successfully boot into that, you can then safely backup your important data.

but then again, i can't guarantee you'll be able to boot into the new installation either. 

[Broni]

misstexgal
Sooner, or later, one needs to have Windows CD. I see no other option, unfortunately.

[misstexgal]

I want to thank you guys for helping me as much as you have. And to answer JXY's question the 3 other choices are Safe Mode, Safe Mode with networking, Safe Mode with Command Prompt.  This is what comes up when I click on any of the 3

multi(0)disk (0)rdisk(0)paratition(1)\windows\APPPATCH\drvmain.sys
the rest starts out like this and finishes with backspace ""
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)paratition(1)\windows\system321drivers\ACPI.sys
\WMILIB.sys
\pci.sys
\isaphp.sys
\pciide.sys
\PCIIDEX.sys
\pcmcia.sys
\Mountmgr.sys
\ftdisk.sys
\dmload.sys
\dmio.sys
\partmgr.sys
\volsnap.sys
\atapi.sys
\disk.sys
\classpnp.sys
\fltmgr.sys
\sr.sys
\PXHELP20.sys
\KSECDD.sys
\ntfs.sys
\ndis.sys
\mup.sys

What does all this mean?

And if I have to wipe everything off of here and start over, how would I go about doing this?

Thanks in advance.

[JXY]

It looks more like hardware problem.

you might be right.

first things first, get windows cd. That's the first stepping stone. Without, our help is very limited.

[misstexgal]

I have a cd.  I put the cd in the green light comes on and nothing happens.  what do i do now?

[Broni]

You said before, you didn't have Windows CD...