did you try the last known good option to try to go back to?
How to start your computer by using the Last Known Good Configuration feature in Windows XP

Yes, unfortunately that mode will not work either.

it might help if you can tell us what you mean by
"I did the wrong thing and did not shut it down properly and now my computer will not boot at all."

what did you do wrong, how did you shut it down?

are you getting any type of message at all other than what you mentioned?

do you have a back up image of your system you could use for recovery? any backups you have done recently?

turn off the pc then try unplugging it totally from all power sources this means also unplugging anything that is plugged into it including router, printer, etc anything that plugs into electricity we want to make sure no power is going to the pc, (do not simply turn it off actually unplug it) on the back of the pc is a toggle switch, switch that to off also.
Wait about 20 minutes or so to let it reset then start out by plugging in all the items you unplugged from it, wait to turn on the pc last, once everything else is plugged in and running then plug in the pc to the power, next turn that toggle switch on the back of the pc on, now try to boot the pc and see if anything happens.

Thanks for answering!
In shut it down by turning off the surge protector instead of shutting it down the proper way.
I have no backups. The recovery is internal-no discs.
Other than the recovery message I mentioned in the above post, the only screen with directions I am receiving is the black screen with white letters that states: Sorry for the inconvenience your computer was not shut down properly.
Pleas choose what mode you would like the computer to use to start. ( I am doing that from memory but that is the jest of the message.)
I will do as you suggest and disconnect everything.
Thank you again.

You will be lucky to get it going again sounds like a corrupted windows registry from incorrect shut down.

"Please choose what mode you would like the computer to use to start."

Choose safe mode see if starts in that mode, see if it starts in any mode!!!!!

All else fails you mat be able to get recovery disks from HP you would need to contact them, not sure how old the computer is

if all else fails you could use a linux live cd to possible go in and get your data so that you do not lose it all. If you do not have a linux live cd you can usually find them in the linux magazines at bookstores but here are some links to help you in that effort.

Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer
Geek to Live: Rescue files with a boot CD
Trinity Rescue Kit

It will not start in any mode.
The computer is 5 years old. The main thing I want to retrieve
is photos.
If I were to buy a new computer could the old hard drive files with my photos be transferred to the new computer or would the HD be too far gone?
ravencajun, thanks for the links.

When you turn this computer on do you hear the POST beep?
Is there just one beep?
If more, how many?
Does the activity light on the front of the tower come on after the POST beep indicating the hard drive has started to spin?

What type of computer are you using to report here? If this is a desktop computer you can easily remove the hard drive from the problem machine and slave it to the computer you are now using. Then you have the choice of copying any or all data from that drive to the computer you are using or you can burn it to CD or save it to thumb or external drives if you have those.

The computer I am using right now is my laptop. It is an Acer Aspire 4730Z.
I bought the laptop back in the spring and am so glad I did.
My HP pavilion desktop does beep and the activity light does come on.
The computer tries to start up and go through the normal stages and then the black screen with the white letters appears and the computer can not get beyond that stage.
I will turn on the desktop and count the number of beeps I hear as it tries to start up.

I appreciate all the help.

The problem you are having most likely does not have anything to do with damage to your hard drive which would make data recovery impossible. If you got a new computer and removed the old hard drive, you could hook it up to the new one or have it installed as a secondary drive and probably salvage everything off of it. When you get this problem fixed, make a resolution to always back up any file/photo you can't afford to lose...

I am sorry to be so ignorant about computers but what do I need to purchase to hook the old HD to a new computer?

If you mostly want to retrieve the files, you can pull the drive and put it in an external enclosure. You can get one of these for about $15 if you shop around. Just make sure you get the right kind. For a 5 year old computer, it's probably IDE (sometimes called ATA), but not SATA. You can then connect the drive to your laptop and get files off of it.

have you tried the power down sequence?

if the hard drive has not failed I would do what bpgreen suggested and buy a usb connect hard drive enclosure to slap that drive in, then you can just plug it into the usb port of another computer and access it. You must know the type of drive as was mentioned. here is what we are talking about.
Reincarnate Your IDE Hard Drives as USB External Hard Drives

now you can buy external enclosures that will handle any type of hard drive whether it be IDE or SATA, like this one, so be sure what type you have and what type you need or go for one of these that will take any type.
Sabrent ECS-STU35K Hard Drive Enlcosure - 3.5" IDE/SATA to USB 2.0, eSATA

another option I don't see mentioned often, maybe because it is newer, is the use of a hard drive dock or toaster, no enclosure needed just drop the drive in to the dock.
Hard Drive Docks
INFO:
"Hard Drive Docks (Toasters)
An incredibly simple, yet functional new product category emerged in 2008: Hard Drive Toasters (Hard Drive Docks). This device lets you plug in regular internal hard drives as though they were pop-in flash drives. You drop in your hard drive, and the dock instantly gives your system access to that drive, without wiring, or power connections - it's all done by the hard drive toaster. This way you can use any compatible hard drive as an external removable hard drive for backup purposes!"

it is a great alternative for those that have multiple drives they have to use, especially if you work on computers. And you have little to no heat issues

Thanks everyone. I will look into everything suggested!

How do I know if my HD is 2.5 or 3.5?
I looked up the specs for my computer on the internet but could not find anything on if it is a 2.5, 3.5 or a different size.
Thanks!

Belarc run this tool to find out all the info about your computer

ravencajun,
In did as you suggested and disconnected everything and did the toggle. The computer still tries to start but I still get the black screen with the mode selection.

I like the looks of those hard drive docks. They remind me of those Eagle nest devices from years ago(except that they're external).

For Belarc, do I have to download it on the computer in which I want to find the info? Can I download it on my Acer lap top and find info out about my Pavilion desktop hard drive?
I called HP support to ask them about whether the HD is 2.5 or 3.5.
They did not know.:(
I appreciate everyone's patience with me and my many questions.

What is the model of your HP desktop? Mine is 3.5" and my laptop is 2.5". I don't know if this is the common size for them or not? I would think by Googling the model number, you could find out lots of information. My HP desktop is 4 years old and its drive is SATA. If you have your original documentation, all that information should be there.

"The computer still tries to start but I still get the black screen with the mode selection".

SELECT SAFE MODE----> use the arrow keys to scroll to safe mode then hit enter on key board let us know if you get that far.. if you do we can try a system restore at that point.

Your drive is probably a 3.5 if it's a desk top, 2.5's usually in laptops.

No belarc will not work that way it will only provide information it's installed on

Thanks,
It is an HP pavilion a1010n desktop.
I can not get it to start in any mode. The screen offers normal, safe, command, network, and last configuration that worked mode. No matter which one I select, it tries to start and I get the blue windows screen and then the black screen with the white letters asking what mode I would like to start it in. Unless I turn it off, it will cycle like this for hours.

Sorry I was not sure if you were selecting a mode, carry on with hard drive instructions then...

I am sorry I was having a brain nap moment when I suggested to use belarc on the pc that you can not boot LOL

I like to recommend belarc be run on every pc and a print out made so that anytime you need to refer back to it for any info that you may not be able to access later. So if you have other computers including laptop keep the link handy and do a print out and file it. I do an update print out on mine on occasion so it shows any new stuff added since the last time I ran it.

I tried to start it up again and hit F8 to advanced settings. I was able to stop the rebooting cycle and I received an error screen with Unmountable_Boot_Volume.
Does that help in diagnosing the problem?
Thanks!

Pretty much what we have been saying your hard drive is failed or you have a corrupted registry

1.The file system is damaged and cannot be mounted.

Here is a link that might be useful: support.microsoft

I will try to find my windows xp cd and follow the instructions on the microsoft website.

UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" error message

do you happen to have an xp cd you could put in and try a repair (R) option? you would be booting it from the cd.

I would suggest you read through these posts on daniweb, they seem to be having success with this problem.
Unmountable_boot_volume

ravencajun, user has no disk....

"I can not find any of the discs that originally came with the computer."

You could borrow an xp disk from some you know an try it that is if it's a file problem, if it's a hard drive issue then the disk of course will not fix that

My father's computer has Windows XP.
I will ask him if he has the CD.
Thanks!

Remember you will need an xp cd not a recovery cd often supplied with the purchase of a computer.

Thanks zep.
I am having no luck acquiring an xp cd.
My father has the same model computer as I and he mentioned an xp install cd did not come with the computer.

With out any disks I don't know what to tell you as I said before maybe it's possible to contact HP and get the recovery disks somehow..

take a look at this link at the HPsite for your model it mentions how to use the recovery and how to get the discs
Using the HP recovery process to restore all drivers and software

Thanks ravencajun!
I am confused though....Do I need the recovery discs or the install discs?

Thanks!

It's probably going to be best for you to take the computer in for repair.

you may want to think about how much you want to spend on that pc, it is a celeron processor and not a lot of ram if it is as it came. I personally would not put much money into it. I think I would try to salvage what I can off the drive if that is possible. It will likely be expensive if you take it in for repair.

I agree with Raven here, I would not be taking a Celeron computer in for repair. That might well cost half the price of a new computer.

You don't have a friend, neighbour or relative who might loan you their Windows XP CD? Explain to them that you do not need the license number as your license sticker on the side of the computer case is the one you would enter as you install XP. That sticker number is tied to the motherboard in your computer. (I suspect that if you have XP Home then you would need an XP Home CD)

Recovery disks are bought at the time of the computer purchase. Or this is more often just a separate partition on your hard drive and the buyer should create a set of recovery disks. This includes all the 'free' extras the computer maker adds on.

The XP CD is just that, a copy of Windows XP with nothing added

As a side note you may want to suggest to Dad that he creates a set of recovery disks for his machine in case he runs into problems too at some future point.

I have a couple of other people I can ask.
My husband is going to ask a couple of people that are in the computer dept. at his work.
I have learned my lesson and will start to back up everything from now on.

always a good idea to have backups and always make the copy of the recovery area that comes on new computers, having those burned to discs is something that can definitely be an essential tool in these cases, with them you can try to put the pc back to the factory settings, means lots of updates and stuff but at least you do have a recovery option.

Getting an imaging program and creating full images of your entire system really is about the best way to go these days.
There is even a free program available to do that for those that do not want to buy programs like Acronis True Image.
DriveImage XML

Ravencajun,
Thanks for the link for DriveImage XML. I have downloaded and installed it. I hope that if the time comes that I have to use it I will be prepared.

"I have downloaded and installed it. I hope that if the time comes that I have to use it I will be prepared."

Have you also used it to make a backup? If not, you won't be able to use it when you need it. In order to restore an image, you have to create it.

I will be making a backup this weekend bpgreen. Right now I have my grandson and I never attempt any computer work of any kind while he is here. He will be leaving Fri afternoon to spend the weekend at his dad's place so I will have the peace and quiet I need to attempt doing computer work