Won't boot

Have not consulted this site for a long time. I have a laptop, loaned to a friend, returned, upon starting I get a blackscreen error message: error, press control, alt, del to continue. I do, it says press F10, I do and it goes to a screen. I can move up and down on it but nothing happens when I click enter on something. What is my next step? Take it to the computer fixers? I do not have a recovery disc; it is a Compac, about 8 years old, laptop. Would like to give it to my granddaughter if I can get it going.
Sharon

 

I'll try F8, didn't try yet, kept saying to do F10. Well, I figured I would need a recovery disc, I think they are kind of expensive - would it be better to go through a local computer geek or just buy one on my own? It is windows xp
Sharon

 

Try the manufacturers website. I once got a recovery disc(s) for a HP laptop for $15 from the HP support site. Maybe you can do the same. Worth checking out.

 

Didn't work, talked to chap "specialist" at HP, he couldn't do anything to help me though I gave him every single number on the back of the laptop. I hate to have to junk it.

 

Thank you for the advice and the link. After I read the link, I believe I will have to get a new disk of some sort, os or probably a recovery disk. I don't know anyone personally with such a disk so will take to a hopefully reasonable computer repairer who will probably have the required disk. Just wondered if there was a way to fix it myself. Sometimes it will go to the Phoenix BIOS Utility but then after a screen or two it just stops and tells me I have a stuck key (error stuck key) so probably something wrong with the hardware on the laptop too. Hope I can save it for a reasonable price, but maybe not worth it. thanks for all your help on this forum.
Sharon

 

BY the way, would the installation code be on the XP sticker on the bottom? By the bar code on the sticker?
Sharon

 

Correct, it will say Product Key and be 25 characters

 

Do you know exactly what the error message was, spesific I mean, before you hit control alt delete.

 

Goes to the Phoenix BIOS Utility, from there it won't do anything --when I first turn it on it says disc error read press control-alternate-delete to continue
it displays the compac log then says press F10 and then it goes to that Phoenix Screen. I am thinking I need a recovery disc but have none.
Sharon
Thank you for your interest.