Ok so I was trying to install Microsoft office and in mid-install, I get the BSOD. so i restart my computer and it seems to boot up normally but when the xp loading bar comes up, it just stays there, with the bar going across over and over. This happens plenty of times, including when i try and boot from safe mode, where it gets stuck loading SPTD.sys. So I decide to try and repair XP using the same disc i did to install xp in the first place. I tell it to boot from CD first then HD. Instead of giving me the normal message: "Press any key to boot from disc," it ignores the boot order and tries to boot from my hard drive with the same results. I've tried everything. I've even switched all of the settings where all 3 slots say to boot from CD. I really dont want to have to replace anything, can anybody help?

Sounds like either the optical drive or the XP install CD is damaged. Have you access to another machine you could use to test if the XP install CD boots there? If it does, optical drive likely culprit (they can work for 'normal' operations & then not to boot). Very cheap nowadays to replace.

i tested the cd and it booted fine on another computer. then i hooked up an old cd drive from an emachines and it boots just fine. now i'll see if i can get xp to start up properly...

and windows is funtioning normally again. thanks for the advice