Ralph,
 Assuming you still have a WinXP cd;
Set your bios to boot to CD first, A:\ second and
C:\ third.
Insert CD in drive and turn machine on,
After you get a screen offering to Set up select R
for repair.
At the prompt type bootfix and hit enter.

If you are lucky you will be able to boot.
Luck,
Hal Seabolt 

-----Original Message-----
From: Personal Computer Hardware discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Ralph Hunter
Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 1:40 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PCBUILD] pc won't boot

I am entering a second write up of my problem with
more detail. 
I have a desktop pc with windows xp sp3 in it. I
had disconnected it when I got a laptop computer.
Now I need it to download some Zip files to a cd.
The laptop has no connection for a Iomega zip
drive.
The desktop won't boot up.
I turn it on and get the Windows xp screen, then
it goes to the screen to start in safe mode, etc.
I tried safe mode and last config and it goes back
to Windows xp screen and goes back to giving boot
choices and the screen showing the Processor, etc.
Then it goes back to the Windows xp screen and
goes repeats with boot choices etc. 
If I hit F8 I can change the items but after doing
this it repeats like above. I downloaded the boot
cd from Free Pc that is to repair existing xp
drives and ran it. It showed a lot files and shut
down. Rebooting it when back to the same problem
of recycling. I can hit delete and go to setup
screen. I did this and hit F5 (load old values in
cmos)and F10 to save. When I rebooted it went to
the Windows xp screen and began recyling again as
above.
A long time ago I had successfully downloaded the
xp set up disks onto floppys but i no longer have
them. I can't download them again because I don't
have any A drive on my laptop or on the desktop.
The cd available from Pc Free is an image cd that
has to be downloaded to a floppy and then
installed.
HOw can I get this to boot?
System information:
Maxtor 6040L0
IDE-0 1st boot drive
cdrom 2nd boot drive
zip 3rd boot drive
Main processor is Pro 1800+
Amibios system config
Primary Master 19600 41110mb
It has usb and ethernet
Can I get this to Boot?

              The NOSPIN Group is now offering
Free PC Tech
                     support at our newest
website:
                          http://freepctech.com

              The NOSPIN Group is now offering Free PC Tech
                     support at our newest website:
                          http://freepctech.com