Computer does not boot up (black screen)

Well our house computer all of a sudden stopped working today. The computer was working just fine. We turned it off yesterday by pressing shut down in the start menu.
This morning when you try to turn it on it just goes to the Dell Screen "loading bar" and then once the bar loads up a black screen comes up.
After the black screen comes up the computer just turns off on its own.
So I decided to try to boot it in safe mode.
When I try safe mode the computer give me 3 lines of words on the screen and nothing else.

I am unsure on the exact specs of the system but all I know is:
Windows XP home
thats it lol.

Ill get more info later if I can.

What could be wrong? Bad HHD? Corrupt OS files?

I am really stumped...

 

So what are you trying to do? get your data off the harddrive?
- Do you have desktop computer? You could take the harddrive out of your Dell and put it in that machine, see if you can get your data. Might want to do a virus/malware scan incase that's the cause of your problems.
- No desktop computer? You could buy a USB harddrive enclosure to put the harddrive in and see if you can read it on another computer.

 

I am wanting my computer to work again.
What could be wrong with it?

 

Those 3 error lines you see are missing or corrupted files - you are left with 2(3?) options, either manually copy/replace the files via CMD using the windows xp cd, or reinstall windows. You can try doing a system restore as well, but I doubt it will work, try it first to be sure though. You'll find detailed instructions on how to replace files by googling for "hal.dll".

This only happens with windows xp, yet another reason to upgrade :s

 

download and run ubuntu live CD (dont install just run), backup ur data on a usb drive , then u can nuke or repair ur device

 

Thanks for the help!

Another question is I cant find my xp disc do i have to buy a new one? i know the windows sticker with the product code is on the side of the tower.

 

I wouldn't buy another XP disc even if they sold them around here anymore (ebay or sketchy shops are the only places to find xp), for the money you'd pay just buy a copy of win7. You can likely find a disc image (.iso) of XP floating around the net, and just burn that to a dvd, since you already have a product key and are only using the disc for repair it'll be fine. I know there are legal win 7 download links on these forums, there must be some for xp.

 

If you get to the point where you decide to install windows7 you should read the following. You might already know all this stuff, but I found it very helpful in my windows7 install. Saved me from having to buy the full version when I upgraded a laptop from vista.

It explains how you can do a clean install with Windows7 Upgrade rather than Windows7 Full Retail Version. It worked for me. The aurthor, Paul Thurrott knows what he is talking about, he's written several books on windows. Feel free to look him up.

Clean Install Windows 7 with Upgrade Media

The part of the article titled "Method #3: The good old "double install" method" is the instructions that worked for me.

Another option is to use an OEM version of windows7.