Why doesn't my computer start?

Random shut downs are usually linked to over-heating issues. My guess is that you have never cleaned out the inside of this computer.

follow these steps to remedy the situation:

1. Open your computer case (consult manual for specific instructions on how to do this).

2. use a can of compressed air to blow away any dust inside the computer. NEVER spray the can upside down or on its side. Pay particular attention to any fans and vents you see. After the most visible dust is removed, give bursts of air to anywhere you think dust might build up (tiny crevaces and the like).

3. Start the computer with the case OPEN. Make sure that all of the fans inside the machine are spinning. They should be moving fast enough such that the blades blur together. Replace any fans if they are not spinning correctly. Also listen for any rattling or clicking noises and try to determine the source. If its a fan... replace it. Fans run anywhere from 50 cents (at an actual parts store) to 15 dollars (Best Buy) and everywhere in between. I have never seen a computer that was actually better because of a 15 dollar fan.

4. Close the case and perform a test. Use the computer for an extended period of time and make note of odd behaviour. If the shut down problem persists you will need a professional to actually take some time to diagnose the problem.

Sounds like a corrupt MBR (master boot table).

Put your recovery/XP disk in the drive and then restart

Allow the PC to boot from CD (it will take a while) then when you are presented with options you want the repair console (looks like a c: prompt)

At the prompt type FIXMBR - it will ask you if you are sure - go ahead and say yes.

When it gives you the complete message remove the CD and then reboot and all should be well

Have you tried starting it in Safe Mode, where you can run scans, see if spyware/virus is causing problem? If you cant do that, maybe its a hardware problem? Is your fan running?

Do you have your original XP disk, so you can run the recovery console? Maybe that would help?

Sorry, not an expert, just had an idea or two... hope you get it sorted...

You might have a corrupt hard drive. Try booting from a Live Linux CD and see if it works. Then from Live CD you can run a diagnostics program on your hard disk and see how that goes.

If its the hard disk, just flip your laptop, take out the old hard disk and install the new one

abode windows startups will become slower and slower as time is going, it is going on through fact we are setting up extra application to it. If those softwares calls for loading on abode windows startup, they are going to be queuing up whenever you start up your abode windows and for that reason slowing up the finished technique. MSConfig gadget of abode windows can enable you speed up via removing pointless classes at startup. click start up -> Run and kind in msconfig. decide on amenities tab, and test for the duration of the checklist. get rid of something you think of pointless to be there. oftentimes if it’s a Microsoft business company service, purely pass away it. decide on the Startup tab, get rid of the applying or application you don’t to load at startup. Use Command tells you the place the specific application in put in. issues you untick here will by no ability be loaded on the subsequent abode windows startup. click ok, and restart your workstation and notice if it a lot swifter now in case you tousled the settings, pass to commonplace Tab and decide time-honored Startup and each little thing will fall back to unique.

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Another thing to listen for: rattling and/or clicking sounds. My brother's PC had similar problems when he called me. I went to his house to see. When he started it I heard those rattling and clicking sounds. I knew it was a hard drive failure. I tried everything I could think of to get the PC to boot but all failed. He'll have to replace his hard drive. Do you hear these sounds, too?

Corrupt windows files. The best option I see is to format and start again.

i would boot from a floppy - either dos disk1 or win98 start up disk run fdisk and delete the partition on your hard drive

next put in your xp cd and set your pc up from scratch - is there any particular reason you set up a fat32 not NTFS?

definitely corrupt files or corrupt partition table, you can try to recover your files by booting into linux using this cd

ftp://swtsrv.informatik.uni-mannheim.de/pub/linux/distributions/BackTrack/bt2final.iso

once you have your data recoverd, its time to reformat and reinstall