Computer Does Not Boot Past First Screen

[gatewaymt3423]

I have a 2007 Gateway Laptop Model MT3423. I recently installed windows xp on it. It worked fine for a couple days. One day it just turned off and when i went to turn it on again it would boot to the first screen (Gateway Screen) then to a blank screen with a white dash flashing in the corner. The display is lit, the lights on the computer are on and the fan is running. I can go to the BIOS Menu but thats it. When I put a cd in it will say press any key to boot from cd and then after you press that the screen goes the same again. HELP, I need to fix my computer. When you try to type stuff into the blank screen the computer just makes beep noises

 

[snowchick7669]

Hi gatewaymt3423.

The first step I'd go about is checking the hard drive as this can often cause this frustrating problem.

The instructions on how to make a bootable disk and running seatools can be found here

Let me know how you get on