Computer doesn't reboot properly?

I bought a Compaq from a computer shop down the road. It was perfectly fine, but then one day it just didn't restart. So I took it back and they said the harddrive was shot. So they replaced it with a new one, and then ever since they've replaced it, it doesn't want to boot properly. I mean that when I turn the computer on, after The XP logo comes on, it flickers and the screen stays black. I then have to turn the computer off and on manually until the windows chime plays and the desktop appears. I took it to the shop to show them, and they said they'd take a look at it. After the weekend I came to pick it up and they said it happened to them once and they don't know what's wrong with it. It happens to me atleast 5 times before it will load properly, so I think they know something I don't. Maybe some of you can help me figure this out.

System:
Windows XP H.E.
Version 2002
SP 3

Computer:
Intel{R}
Celeron{R} CPU 1.70GHz
1.70 GHz, 504 MB of RAM

 

Have you tried re-installing windows? Or maybe running in safe mode?

 

I don't know if the shop did it or not, but I haven't. I would like to try it to see if it would help, but I've never done it before, so I don't know how to do it. Is there a good thread on here or somewhere else to help me Re-install it?

 

All I know it is an EVO. That's all that I can tell from the tower.

 

Do you have all your data backed up?

 

Here are the instructions to reload XP:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

 

No, I forgot to mention that I don't have the XP CD. Is it possible to re-install it without the disc? If not, I can borrow my friends copy. Would that work?

 

Yeah it would.

 

Contact hp & get the recovery discs,it's not a smart move to have your mates copy of xp activated on your comp as well as his as it will get flagged at microsoft (hardware differences will get logged)),OEM discs have a different license serial to retail & different from Manufacturer OEM licenses,so you more than likely won't be able to use your original serial number on your mates disc.


Where is the original hdd as it's most probably ok,you should have been given it back

 

The original HDD got thrown away. He showed me the harddrive and it was completely scratched up. So it definitly wasn't okay. He said he tried putting it in another computer and said that it wasn't usable.
You said contact HP? Wouldn't I contact Microsoft? I couldn't find a download for a recovery disc, so do I have to call them?

 

before you do all that try reseating your IDE cables, im assuming that's what its using or try moving it to the secondary channel.

the blue one is primary



if that doesn't work try taking a look at your Capacitor Tops and see if some are poped up.

they shouldn't look like this.

 

oldest trick in the book .. your legal xp and it's key are now sitting on some other persons pc having been most likely sold for full retail.

Good to see DX found my link interesting. Real intel boards of the same age suffer the same problems, though it's often only the one by the agp slot that goes bad.. and they don't show any outward signs.

 

Simple way to find that out tho i highly doubt it's the case



@ John
No you will need to contact hp for recovery discs as they are not a retail copy but manufacturer OEM & come with all your hardware drivers etc pre-installed including the crap ware

either way when you get it all sorted invest in symantec ghost or acronis true image or there's macrium reflect after installing the OS & then creating "one time" images from initial reinstall & a few more as you add updates & software

 

Take a coffee break ddp

 

I had an unfair advantage i was tanked up & hypo on coffee so beat ya to the submit post button

RE:Contacting hp not ms message to john

 

DDP,
Can you send me a link to where I can find out about this recovery disc?
DXR88,
I think I remember the owner of the shop saying he tried re-seating everything when I brought it in the first time, so he ruled that one out.