Computer not booting up properly or fully?

Yesterday I was working on my computer. I was prompted that windows updates were ready to install, so I went ahead and installed them. I then went doing something else around the house with the intention of coming back later and shutting down the computer. But instead I was in a rush, forgot about the pc, and went to college for a few hours. When I came back, my screensaver was on. I moved the mouse and when the desktop screen came up the message on it said that the updates had been successfully installed, and that all that was left was to restart the computer. I clicked the 'restart now' option, and the computer began restarting. The problem is that now everytime the pc reaches the screen that comes up at start up (the screen that just says 'windows xp', with what look like blue rectangles with rounded corners running through a box with rounded corners underneath the 'windows xp') it automatically reboots itself. Possible problems could be that the pc was on for an excessive amount of time, and not in use. I had just downloaded some updates for windows xp. Also my cd-rom hasn't been working for the past while, as the computer seems incapable of recognising when theres a disc in there. When at start up the computer reaches the 'windows xp' screen, the light on the cd-rom blinks several times, just before the computer reboots itself. Any help you can offer me would be hugely appreciated.

Thankyou, in advance for any help you can offer me.

Brian Halpin

This question was answered on December 16, 2004. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

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With your computer off, turn the power in and keep pressing the 'F8' key until you hear a beep and/or a new option screen Scroll down the options to where you will read something to the effect of 'Last Known Good Configuration' Choose that option and follow any instruction that may appear.

Truth151

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Posted by Chris of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on December 16, 2004

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