[ImThatDingo]

First off, as you'll see, I'm pretty retarded when it comes to computers. So, if this question isn't in the correct spot, I apologize. Anywho, on to business:

I have a laptop that is about 4 years old. It's an HP Pavilion dv8000 with Windows XP Media Center installed. I really know nothing more than that. Sorry. The laptop was working fine about....2 days ago. All of a sudden, while checking my e-mail, it just turned itself off. At first I though, oh maybe it got overheated, so I really wasn't concerned at that point. I left it alone for a few hours, went to turn it back on, and it would constantly reboot itself. It would get as far as my Windows loading screen, then halfway through the load, it'd recycle itself to the HP logo and then to where it wants me to chose "Safe Mode, Last Good, etc.". Now, I have tried all of 'em. Every one of 'em, and several times, all with the exact same result...reboot. Yesterday I found an XP Pro CD, so I went to Bios and changed the Boot order so that I could boot from the CD. Everything was going well. I had been to another site that told me to hit R for Recovery. Now, right after I hit the R, the laptop dies completely. The only way that I can get it to turn back on is if I unplug the Power Supply, and then plug it back in...then we start the whole process over. Another site I went to says to absolutely NOT hit R. So instead, I hit enter. Theeeen, surprise, it completely shuts off. Now, I try this one last time because now I'm pretty <removed by ETAF, please do use that language here , thanks > . This time, after I hit enter, it lets me get to where ya hit F8 to accept the Windows Agreement or whatever. It lets me get to where it's searching for my current Windows and dies. So, what is going on here? It's like the thing is messing with me. Tormenting me, even. It lets me get a liiiittle bit farther every time I do this, but not far enough that it'll work. I have everything saved on an external hard drive, so I really don't care if I lose whatever's on the laptop. Also, nope, I don't know where my Recovery CD is. I've searched high and low for it. Thanks in advance for any help!

~Doni.