Computer Won't Start

[indfin]

[font=\"Arial\"]When I turn on my computer, it shows a bit of the written stuff at start-up (three or four lines) and that's it.  It says "Memory Test" at the bottom.  And then it doesn't do anything.  Please help.[/font]

[guestolo]

What does the 3 or 4 lines say or referring too?
After the memory test, do you receive any error messages?

Any new hardware added to the computer?
What operating system?

Are you getting a single post beep at startup, or multiple beeps?
If so, state the beep code please

[indfin]

The text is as at normal start up:

"Detecting IDE Drives........
Primary Slave.....
Secondary Slave.....", etc.  At the bottom of the screen it says Memory Test.
Then it just freezes -- no beeps, no error message, nothing.  It has been this way for about a week and I have tried to start it maybe five times with the same result.

No, I have not added any hardware.  Downloaded Chrome recently.  I have Windows XP Pro.

Miracle!!!......I turned it on just now to give you exactly what the three or four lines said, and it started just fine!!  But now it won't shut down....it gets stuck at the "Windows is Shutting Down" frame.

Well, the initial problem is gone, but it is acting funky.  I guess I'll run Spybot, etc. and will let you know.

Thanks a ton.