its not the ram

[mrt]

my computer will not start [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img],it opens on to a page which gives me options which i have tryed all of and the computer goes in a loop and switches off then goes back to the same page (the computer is xp)it just will not go any further even if you try and start from the last known good configuration it goes on to the xp start up with the little box then turns blue then starts all over again [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img],ive tryed changing the ram and still the same ,ive been told maybe its the mother board or the power supply, does this mean time for a new computer and if so would it be possible to tranfer all the programmes i have in stalled or would i have to start all over again (lost some of the discs to the programmes)i had a mate about 5years ago put a new mother board in so i could not tell what one is in there ,is it just as easy to change the mother board and still have the programmes that are on there or does it not work like that or bite the bullet and buy a new computer [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[mrt]

i forgot to say it will not even start in safe mode same old thing that it just goes back to the start and gives me the 4 options

[RichieP]

Most of the time I've seen this happen it's the hard drive failing.

Do you know the make of hard drive?

[mrt]

yeah its a maxtor 3.5 series i think 80 gb

[RichieP]

Maxtor is now owned by Seagate.

Download and run Seatools to test your hard drive.

You can run a version in Windows,l but it's better to test it in DOS when the hard drive is not in use if you're comfortable creating a bootable floppy or CD.

[mrt]

ive downloaded the seatools and ran it on the computer and it did not pick up any problems and still the same problem is there so does this mean its the mother board (i ran all the test in seatools ,short test long test and aquistic test)if it is the mother board should i just go for a new computer(mac or pc)

[RichieP]

Don't write it off yet.

Disconnect everything on the motherboard, apart from the fans, power supply and hard drive. Remove any PCI cards and USB connections.

Make sure you know where everything goes.

Try it again.

If it boots, put them back one at a time until it won't start.

If it's still the same, can you get an XP disk?