"DaveP72" <DaveP72@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B2518DD1-A968-4B9D-A66E-7043C954B2B4@microsoft.com...
> My computer has unexpectedly crashed after installing a software CD that
> accompanied a piece of CCTV hardware. The software installed fine and I
> have
> been using the program fine until I needed to restart after my copy of
> Microsoft Outlook crashed. Now the computer is stuck in a start up loop!
>
> As as soon as I get to the Windows XP Home screen the computer restarts
> automatically and returns to the plain black screen.
>
> I have tried each one of the options Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,
> Start Windows Normally, Last Known Good...all of which makes no
> difference.
>
> I have the original Windows XP Pro installation CD-ROM disc.
>
> Is it possible to start up from my installation disc?
>
> Thank you.
> Dave

A manual System Restore is probably your best bet:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545. If you have a suitable boot CD (e.g.
a Bart PE boot CD) then you can proably shorten the process by manually
restoring one of the System Restore "System" hives to the
c:\windows\system32\config folder. - On a humorous note: You write "My
computer has unexpectedly crashed . . .". Do you sometimes expect your
computer to crash? :-)