Windows XP won't start up?

One of our work computers won't boot up. It freezes on the start up. I have changed the bios to boot from cd. When it boots from the cd it asks what i want to do.....start the setup....press r for repair/recovery or exit.
I pressed enter to start the set up and the license agreement comes up...says press F8 to accept...but it won't accept it when i press it?

Can anyone help? please:cry

 

keyboard malfunction? try switching keyboards.

 

ok...tried that and it worked ....however....windows still freezes on start up after repairing...any suggestions

 

ok i have also tried remove ram and putting it back in...but still no luck....please any suggestions appreciated

 

can anyone help fix this problem?

 

What are the system specs?

 

I have no idea what they are...its not my pc...but one at work which belongs to my boss...and she knows absolutely nothing about computers...and me who only knows a little bit

 

hmmmmm........instead of pressing enter to setup windows, try pressing r for a repair install. won't harm the files on the pc but it'll more than likely fix the problem. I had this happen at work the other day and that's how i had to fix it.

 

yep tried the repair install...that didn't work either

 

i have now prepared my boss for the worst ......which is she may have lost everything....she now understands why she needs to do a back up...but wants to know how...(shaking my head)....but i will deal with that later....for now do I just go for an install over the top of the existing windows XP or do i need to reformat and if so ...how?

 

When you boot up to the install disk and press enter to start setup, you will see the partition. you need to delete it, then recreate the partition. It will automatically set itself up to format, all you have to do is choose ntfs not ntfs (quick).