Computer won't start

[veloman]

Trying to fix a friend's computer (XP, SP3, 32 bit). Was having a terrible time so I did a system recovery (using the partition on the hard drive; no CDs). When I turn the computer on the normal Windows display appears and then the window with starting options (Safe Mode, Last Known Good etc. appears). No matter which option I select the computer always comes back to this page. I even tried to do a system recovery again and this window appears. What the heck did I do and is this situation salvageable?

 

[JCB1]

try taking the hard-disk out and put it in another computer as a secondary drive, then run a chkdsk on the secondary drive, when that has finished put the drive back in to the machine and try to boot again

 

[veloman]

Thanks JCB. Sorry for waiting so long to get back to this. I ended up putting the computer in the junk closet and I may get around to messing with it in a couple of weeks. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll post if I end up getting it to work. Thanks again.