stoping at startup?

[yank me doodel]

when i restart or turn off my computer the correct way (start>shut off> restart/shut down), weather i turn it back on (shut down) or on its way back on (restart), it stops at a screen where it shows the motherboard icon (picture/logo/animation thingy) and im guessing freezes becuase i can not do anything to change the startup set-up. now, when i restart the computer correctly (start>turn off computer>restart), on its way back on, if i switch the manual on/off switch on the back top of the computer, it will shut off. when i turn it back on, it goes correctly. what is the problem here? software? motherboard?

im not sure what the name of the motherboard is, but this is what i have found, that i think could possibly be it:

Intel core 2 CPU
OR
ACPI Multiprocessor PC

?
help appreciated, thanks.

 

[AudiPlayer]

Hello,
Seems your OS is messed up,

Can you access your back up drive? F6 or F8?

At start up..

Turn on your computer when you hear it *beep* - and see the "logo" hit F6 or F8 a lot, depending on your manufacter setting is.

first id try to do a "restart to best known configuration"

if that doenst work, try starting it in safe mode, then scanning it to see if you have a virus running around

and if all fails, try re-instlaling your XP through your back up drive.


Hope this works.