Don't know where to start...!

[saw0304]

Hey there,

I only realised I have a problem with my PC when I tried to start it as a normal this morning and it went into a 3 stage booting process - saying that the first stage was dirty and it would work through it. After the 3 stages it said it would restart the computer.  It did this and went into the normal Windows XP screen, which after a few moments went back to the same 3 stage booting process.  This happened a few times before I gave up - it seems to be on some sort of loop.

The computer is about 4 years old and I have a new laptop arriving on Monday but I've got a load of documents I intended to save to a memory stick in order to transfer it to the new machine. 

Can anyone help - I really know NOTHING about computers once they're on and working!

Also if I do manage to get into the old computer will moving files on to the stick and then onto the new laptop be a problem??

Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.
Stephen

[Eg0Death]

Stephen, please provide more information.  Click here.

[bartrob]

turn your computer on whilst pressing F8 hopefully a selection will come up allowing you to select safe mode

select it and just ignore the screen size and colour there is nothing wrong

got to start
programs
acceserories
system tools
and select system restore

select a restore point to just befor the problem and cross your fingers



bartrob