computer problem

[jim76]

one for you IT boffins on here!

Came to use my PC this morning and it won't start up. Turns on ok, but shuts itself down before it gets to the blue XP screen with the list of users available.

I had a problem a couple of years back with it and reinstalled windows, since then it came up with a black and white screen at boot up asking which version of XP to use and there were 3 versions to choose from, all the same. I just always clicked on the top one and it used to boot up fine from there (there was a 30 second count down on this screen or it would default to the first option i guess and just boot up anyway)

so this morning i get the 30 second count down screen, choose the first option and before it gets to the blue login screen it just turns off.

Kept trying and after i entered the windows version it came up with a screen to choose boot in safe mode, or last known working configuration etc. tried safe mode and last configuration and again both times it just shut itself down before the login screen.

I'm thinking it may be a thermal issue, maybe the CPU fan not working or something and after 30 seconds or whatever it starts to get too hot and shuts down? A friend of mine said possibly hard drive overheating as the opening Bios section seems ok, but when it starts to load windows from the drive it turns off?

any suggestions gladly received!