Really big problem

Hello...
I have a "dell" computer,
-3,0 Ghz Intel P4
-2048 Mb RAM (4x512)
-160 Gb Harddrive
-256 Mb Graphics card (Radeon x600)

I only have a DVD-reader, not a floppy-disc reader.

but... to the problem,
one day I was on my way to shut down the computer, but the power was broken and when I start my computer again, it cannot be started completely.
I come to the screen where the usual "log in screen" is, but just before it is shown, a "blue screen" is show. I have tried to bypass it in "secure" mode, but with no success. I borrowed a XP-install cd from my friend, but I cannot install or format my disc. When I try to format my drive, it kinda refers to the disc as a cd-reader??? because I cannot use the command "dir c:" (that just says something like "no disc inserted").
I cannot log in to my computer so I don't know what to do.
Thanks for the help.

Well we would have to have the exact error(no disk inserted)
Have you tried safe mode with command prompt?

And do you have the exact model of the computer? Or know if the drive is IDE or SATA? Some of the newer dells have a hidden recovery partition.

well... the bluescreen shows:
DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
and alot of numbers with letters... like 0x00000002 and such things.

I have a SATA harddrive... my computer were bought like 24 november 2005
and it is a Dell Dimension 9100

None of the safemodes work :(

YES!!! thanks for all the help.
with the hidden recovery partion you mentioned

Pull 3 of your ram modules out and try booting up - if it doesn't work exchange the one left in with one of the ones you pulled - try again - do this with all 4 if necessary.

Also, if you have onboard bideo, after the ram check, if still having problems, pull the video card - same for audio card.


Trial and error hardware checking.