The computer will not go passed the loading Windows XP window ... I have tried starting in Safe mode, taking out the battery, starting in last good connection... it always gets stuck at that window. It looks like its loading up, but then nothing it just stays on that window.

Any ideas?

I do not have a recovery disk or the XP disk anymore! bummer. Anything else I can try before sending it in to get looked at??


Thanks,
katee241

Can you get into safemode?

When the splash screen shows, Windows is using NTOSKRNL.EXE to do (basically) the following things:
- initialize the kernel
- start Boot-Start drivers, then System-Start drivers
- creates Session Manager process (Smss.exe) - the first user-mode process

At this point NTLDR should have enabled it's stuff (like the ability to press F8 to get at the Safe Mode screen)

Most often these problems are due to faulty drivers or corrupt registry hives.

The first step, IMO, is to check the hard drive with a bootable diagnostic utility available from the manufacturer of the hard drive.
The next step would be to run chkdsk /r from the Recovery Console. Since you don't have the system disks, you can download an ISO of the recovery console files here: http://www.thecomputerparamedic.com/files/rc.iso

If those tests pass, then I'd think it was time to do a repair install of XP - and to do that you'll need to have a copy of the installation CD