Media Center Start up problems

[robrpb]

My sister's computer won't start up. When I push the power button it goes to the screen Windows did not start successfully. I have tried all the choices to start with, safe mode, safe mode with networking, safe mode with command prompt, last known good config, and start windows normally and after each one the windows xp screen appears and then the screen returns to screen saying windows did not start successfully.

I built this computer for her over a year ago. It has an Intel D915GEV motherboard with a 3 GHz P-4 processor, 1 GB RAM in dual channel, Windows Media Center with all the updates, Antec Solution Series 1650B case and a Segate 250 GB SATA hard drive. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Also, if I reinstall Windows without formating the hard drive will I still lose all the other programs and files not related to windows? Thanks.

[flanzig1]

A repair install of XP will keep all of the data and programs but you will need to redo all the XP updates and may need to reactivate XP.
Would try a few things before doing a reinstall. Would download Memtest and SeaTools from Seagate and test the ram and HD for problems. Clearing the CMOS may clear up things. Also, check the hardware for possible problems.