Computer won't get past trying to start up

[lucylu2]

When I turn on my computer, it acts like it is going to fire up, then stops, then starts again and just continues to start and stop.

[jason2074]

When I turn on my computer, it acts like it is going to fire up, then stops, then starts again and just continues to start and stop.

 
Again... Your being concise, please give us a clearer picture.

[lucylu2]

When I hit the button on the main unit to turn it on, it sounded like it was powering up as usual, then it shut down after a few seconds, then started up again, and it just continues to come on and go off and I can't get past that.

[Salmon Trout]

 
Again... Your being concise, please give us a clearer picture.

"concise" is what she is not being!

[lucylu2]

gee thx 

[Salmon Trout]

has it just started doing this? was it OK before or did it act strange?

[lucylu2]

Has been fine - never a problem.  Bought it 2 years ago.  Just not sure if I should take it in to have it looked at - what quoted $50 for the 1st half hour and $75 to do backup.  Wondering if I'm going to get into a few hundred if I should just buy a new computer.

[patio]

More info...
As in what ver. of Windows...what happened prior to this ...anything new installed recently etc...

[Salmon Trout]

Is it a laptop? Did you drop or knock it or get it wet?

[lucylu2]

Desk top.  Didn't touch it.  Used it last Sunday night and it was doing this Monday morning.  Using a laptop now and have plugged it back in a couple of times since to see if it does the same thing, and it does.

[lucylu2]

vista?  sorry, not very good at this!

[lucylu2]

and nothing happened prior to this, nothing new installed.  no problems up to this point.

[lucylu2]

I just read a post that sounds like the same problem I am having.  Written on November 7th titles "pc not booting up".  Once piece of advice was to buy a new pc.....

[Salmon Trout]

If this PC was a brand new high or medium spec model 2 years ago it is probably worth spending some money on a repair, but $50 for half an hour and $75 for a backup (especially!) seem a bit steep. Can't you shop around? Of course if you meant that it was used when you got it 2 years ago it might be a more tricky choice. You have not told us much about this machine, its brand, model, etc. One thing is for sure, a technical type of person is going to have to open it up and see what's wrong. It sure sounds like some kind of hardware problem. If it is a no-name motherboard in a cheap case with a low spec CPU and a smallish hard drive and not much memory it might be pointless spending any money on it.