Start the computer goes to a black screen Safe mode, Safe mode with networking bla bla bla.. I have tried each of the startup modes and nothing same loop. tried F10 system test, Compaq systest anyway. went to recover but said I will lose all files. That can NOT happen. It would not give me the option to quit or turn off so I unplugged it. Tried switching the boot orders from floppy to disk to HD. Nothing same loop.

HELP!

Joe Daddy

Boot your XP CD again and see if you can get into the Recovery Console:

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

If you can try the commands fixboot and if that doesn't work return and try fixmbr

Have no idea how far you can get your PC to boot to, after the XP logo? or before? when the loop happens.
When you powering on the PC and see the Compaq logo, press the "F8" key a few times to get to the boot menu, then select from the list the option that allows the PC to boot but not restarting if there is error. This may give you a blue screen with the description of the error. So you can start from there.

Hope this helps!
Bill