I have tried the system restore disc several times and it goes thru its motions but does not help. And the HDD is the boot first. Now there seems to be more problems. The message window that windows has shut down wrong, will not let me choose the safe mode, just keeps timing down to start normally. and goes on until the Xp starts and then freezes. Thanks for all the ideas. I really think fixing this computer is not to be. So will just spend the time and money on a new PC up to date and such.