Windows XP won't start

I have a Gateway ESX E500s from 2002. Windows will not start up (it keeps restarting automatically) and the disk drive is broken. The contents of this computer have some value to me. What are my options/possible solutions?

 

Hello,
This is to get the contents you want off of the computer. You will need to download Puppy linux.

Edit : Sorry, misread your post. I thought you said the install disk was broken. You have to install puppy to a USB flash drive and boot from that. Do you have more than 2 USB ports on this computer?

Edit: When you say disk drive, are you talking Hard Disk Drive or your CD drive?

 

Hi, can you tell me which blue screen error you are getting?

I know you said the screen flashes so fast that you can't see it.. so do the following to get it to stick:

Reboot your PC
Start pressing F8 continuously after the initial Gateway splash screen.
You should now be here:
http://apcmag.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2006/08/DisableAutoRestart.png
From the list, go down to the one that says : Disable automatic restart on system failure
Press ENTER

Your system will now attempt to boot, when and if you get a bluescreen, it will stick. Write down any and all technical information for us to review here
http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/148/techinfo.jpg

Thanks

 

I know this is way late. I just have been putting this off because it's not a priority.

The blue screen came up after I did what you said.

All it says is:

STOP: c0000221 Unknown Hard Error
\SystemRoot\System32\ntdll.dll

 

If you can't get your computer to work by installing/using another OS or rescue disk from a flash drive, here's a Plan B

Physically remove the drive from your computer and install it in a working machine as a second (or what ever) drive. Best if the "new" machine has a similar OS so it can read disk formatting of this newly installed drive without drama. If there are no physical things wrong with the drive, then you should be able to get the "new" machine to access the files on your old drive.

You can also run a bunch of diagnostics and see if you can correct any errors on your old drive too.

Good luck

 

Is this something that is easy to do? Or should I hire someone? I have decent skills when it comes to things like this, but I'm not amazing.