Ghost boot-failure

[F451]

Dear Forum

I am at my wits end trying to determine why my computer using XP Professional edition (final version) will go thru the boot process one moment without any problem then the next time I boot it goes thru the process but locks mid-way before the complete boot process? The boot failure when it happens is like this: after lock up I cannot manually re-boot with the switch and the power button does not work nor cntrl alt delete/2x.? Is this a hard-drive problem a software problem or a DOS system problem. I would really like to know before I take it to the computer shop and the sharks there try to tell me its a hard-drive problem just to sell me another hard-drive (Maxtor).

Please I would appreciate anyones advice. However since my system is unstable could you please send me a reply by email as well as a posting?

Thanking you in advance
F451

 

[AWS]

More than likely a driver problem. If it was a hd problem you would get an invalid disck error.
When exactly does it lock up?
If it locks up just after bios loads it is probably the video drivers. If it gets to the Windows screen, the one just before Windows is loaded, it could be a network problem or a problem with software that loads on startup.
Overclocking will also cause this.