Windows XP Media Centre reboot loop -Compaq sr2029 pc - vertical lines on screen

[Stenomo]

Hello

I have been trying to sort this out for the last 9 days so someone please help before I lose the plot.

I have a Compaq Presario sr2029 desktop with Windows XP Media Centre 2005.  I was on the Internet when the cursor froze over 2" red and white striped square, I powered down and powered then back up and instead of going to Windows start-up went to Compaq welcome screen with black background and red vertical stripes down screen.  Then 'Apologies for Inconvenience....' and the 'safe' or 'normal' mode selection. If I do nothing then Windows XP will try to start up (again vertical lines on screen- this time grey on black) but get an 'attn no signal' then nothing for about 1 or 2 mins and then it tries to start up again.  

If I select safe mode there are lines through parts of the screen especially photos but in VGA mode there are no lines. 

Here's what we've tried so far:

Checked the hard disk for errors

Restored  to previous state

'Last known good configuration...'  nothing happens when this selected

Unplugged all devices to see if any of them was causing the problem

We haven't installed any new software other than what goes on automatically through windows updates and McAfee and other Spyware Updates.

Also, we have opened the box and cleaned the video card (NVidia Geforce 7500 le) with compressed air. 

No error messages or beeps on start-up.

Are there ways of testing the video card to see if there's an issue there...sorry, this troubleshooting all new to me.

Has anyone got any ideas?

[CherylG]

Usually starting in VGA mode with no problem is troubleshooting video card issues.Sounds like it may be time to replace the video card.

You could try uninstalling your Nvidia drivers & install the latest Nvidia driver:

http://www.geforce.com/Drivers/Results/41698

[Stenomo]

Thanks for your post Cheryl. 

I uninstalled the driver and just when I got to the end of the reinstalling it said 'Nvidia couldn't complete the installation as it could not find compatible hardware'.  Is that because the previous driver was uninstalled first?

[CherylG]

The driver being uninstalled would not cause the error.Go to Nvidia site and try Auto-detect option

http://www.geforce.com/Drivers