On start up my pc gets as far at the windows loading screen, then after about 20 seconds, it restarts. This happens repeatedly until I turn the pc off.

I have tried starting in safe mode and to last known good configoration but still the same thing happens.

I have now loaded an old hard drive and put windows xp on there hoping to be able to access the original hard drive through that but when I click on the icon (drive j) it tells be that it needs formatting.

Any help would be appreciated so that I can get some important files from this hard drive. (I know I should have backed them up. LOL)

Debz

Did you change the jumpers?

Your boot drive must be Master and the other set to slave.

If you have done this with the same result it would indicate mechanical damage to the hard drive. You can try to run the manufacturers diagnostic on it.