XP startup problem

Sunday morning my computer ran fine. I unhooked everything and put it in my
car to go back to school after spring break... I got back to my dorm and
hooked everything up. Now something is messed up.

When it boots up it gets as far as the XP load screen, but never gets as far
as the login screen. After the load screen with the blue bar, my monitor
just goes black and then turns off.

I've managed to get it to start in safemode, and I've tried system restore
twice, to two different dates as much as a month ago. While in safemode,
I've run virus scans with updated definitions to no result. I also used PC
doctor on everything (including my harddrive, which took about 3 hours)
without actually finding anything wrong.

I tried the "start in last known good configuration" option, but that got me
to the same place as a regular startup -- my monitor turns off and the system
does nothing.

I've tried using the reinstall CD that came with my system, and I made a
diskette when it asked me to, but that seems to do absolutely nothing.

I can get to a DOS screen that gives me the option of repairing my
harddrive, but then it won't actually do it because I'm using an NTFS rather
than a FAT or FAT32. Apparently because of the protections on it, I'd have
to reformat in order to "repair" whatever it is that's wrong with it. When
I'm in safemode, none of the diagnostics I've used have found a problem.

Overall, I can get the system to run in safemode, but that's about it. None
of the diagnostics I've run have found anything wrong with the system. I
can't seem to figure out WHY XP won't start up normally.

Obviously I'm reticent to format my hard drive or lose information.

Help would be appreciated. Please ask questions if it will help you
understand the problem.

Thanks.

Peter, try opening up the box and remove the ram. Then reinstall and make
sure it's fully seated and locked down.
"Peter" wrote in message

 > Sunday morning my computer ran fine. I unhooked everything and put it in
 > my
 > car to go back to school after spring break... I got back to my dorm and
 > hooked everything up. Now something is messed up.
 >
 > When it boots up it gets as far as the XP load screen, but never gets as
 > far
 > as the login screen. After the load screen with the blue bar, my monitor
 > just goes black and then turns off.
 >
 > I've managed to get it to start in safemode, and I've tried system restore
 > twice, to two different dates as much as a month ago. While in safemode,
 > I've run virus scans with updated definitions to no result. I also used
 > PC
 > doctor on everything (including my harddrive, which took about 3 hours)
 > without actually finding anything wrong.
 >
 > I tried the "start in last known good configuration" option, but that got
 > me
 > to the same place as a regular startup -- my monitor turns off and the
 > system
 > does nothing.
 >
 > I've tried using the reinstall CD that came with my system, and I made a
 > diskette when it asked me to, but that seems to do absolutely nothing.
 >
 > I can get to a DOS screen that gives me the option of repairing my
 > harddrive, but then it won't actually do it because I'm using an NTFS
 > rather
 > than a FAT or FAT32. Apparently because of the protections on it, I'd
 > have
 > to reformat in order to "repair" whatever it is that's wrong with it.
 > When
 > I'm in safemode, none of the diagnostics I've used have found a problem.
 >
 > Overall, I can get the system to run in safemode, but that's about it.
 > None
 > of the diagnostics I've run have found anything wrong with the system. I
 > can't seem to figure out WHY XP won't start up normally.
 >
 > Obviously I'm reticent to format my hard drive or lose information.
 >
 > Help would be appreciated. Please ask questions if it will help you
 > understand the problem.
 >
 > Thanks.