Problem with startup of Windows XP

[r5hul]

I am a semi noob when it comes to computers and I have a Packard Bell desktop that has a Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz 3.19GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM. It runs Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition Version 2002 SP2.

When I turn it on the Packard Bell logo come up fine, then when XP loads, it jolts and then stops. The computer does nothing else but stay on that screen.

Does anyone know the problem is as I cannot turn it off as I cannot restart.

I can bypass the problem by loading the recovery menu by pressing F11 at startup and then doing a system restore but then cancelling it when I can see my background picture.

 

[EDollar]

Have you run any virus scanners? Also will it boot to safe mode?

 

[r5hul]

no will not boot up in safe mode and i have norton running at all times

 

[EDollar]

Other than norton have you run anything else?

 

[r5hul]

no but what could the problem be, i have just recently done a whole system reboot because of the problem and it worked fine until today?

 

[EDollar]

It could be a few different things, depending on how it has been used and if system files were messed with by something malicious or on accident... I think at this point your best bet would be a reformat.