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Hi guys new to the forum, with a very frustrating problem (i don't know all that much about computers either i'm afraid)

For a while now the pc has been reluctant to start. When i swicth it on it goes to a screen making me chose how to start it, including options such as 'safe mode', 'safe mode with networking', start normally' etc, with a count down timer. When it first started doing this, through trial and error i found that by chosing 'safe mode', letting it load and then restarting it, i was able to turn the thing on and use it normally.

However

Came to it on saturday and it wouldnt start atall. tried all of the options that are on the screen mentioned above to no avail. so i left it. then came back to it in the evening and it started fine straightaway. odd i thought but wasnt complaining.

But the same thing happened yesterday.

And i've tried starting it this evening and it just is refusing to play ball. earlier this eveing i was able to start it in safe mode, and no matter how many times i went through the procedure i mentioned above, it wouldnt start normally.

A friend who knows more than me recomended i remove the memory, clean the contacts and see if that helped but it hasnt.

Since i have done this however, i have had a play with some of the things in msconfig while in safe mode, namely some things to do with the boot.

wish i hadnt now as i am completely unable to start anything atall. switch power on, it will get to the option screen thing, and no matter what option i chose, it wont start.

My frined is able to format it for me, so i know it can be fixed (hopefully), i just can't get to all my documents to save them.

So, appologies for the essay, but if any of you guys can help me in any way, please do!!! I am completely lost. Cheers!