The first step is to look at the most obvious thing - the cords. Make sure that they are plugged properly in the wall outlet and the PC.

Still not starting up? Then making a Windows XP Boot Disk is one way to ensure that it will boot next time. The importance of the boot disk is that the PC, for it to boot, uses the good critical files needed to start your PC that are in the floppy disk once you place it in.

To do this, you will need a floppy disk. Make sure it is blank and formatted. Click My Computer, click the hard drive icon, click Tools in the toolbar, click Folder Options then click View. Once the View box opens, click Show Hidden Files and Folders. Make sure that the Hide Protected Operating System Files (recommended) is not checked. Click OK. You will see some gray-colored files, and these are called the Protected Systems File. You now have to select the boot, ntldr files and NTDETECT. You have to right click on them to send them to the floppy disk. Congratulate yourself because you now have created your own Windows XP boot disk. One thing that is important though is that you have to change the startup files on your PC's hard drive with the ones copied on your floppy disk so that you will not have the same problem every time you open your PC. Also remember to label the floppy disk and keep it in a safe place in case you need to use it again.