Okay.
In order to boot from a USB you will need:
-A USB at least 2 gigs big.
-Access to a second computer
-Your original version of Windows <whatever> on CD
-A BIOS that allows booting from USB...

ok, I'm not familar with the newer monitors (I'm used to laptops) so... idea. I can use my laptop on a TV screen. If you don't have another monitor perhaps plugging it into the TV will work for...

Also, check for the click of death... this is a horrible clicking sound the harddrive emits when it's about to die... When my harddrive went west (two HDs, actually) they both had that clicking...

you need to undo what you did exactly before windows started locking when it was loading... the very last step before that. if it corrects the problem then we can start from there.

I had the exact same problem with the same symptoms a few weeks ago.
Before I can completely diagnose what's going on, I need to know if the actual fan in your laptop, aside from an external one...

Thanks for all your help, I'll be sure to check out the cooling pads and clean the fan. I just need to get a couple more years out of this so I have time to save money for a Dell.

My laptop does have a fan... do I still need that?
I think it's the fact that the comp is 7 or 8 years old and has been rebuilt once... Maybe something else is going on... Compaq isn't a great brand...

So, this is like the forth time my Compaq Armada M700 has messed up... but what do you expect from an -old- computer?
So, this time it's to do with it just randomly dying...
Sometimes I turn my...

if you have a second computer (or someone else has one you can borrow) why not try installing your harddrive into their machine and reformatting?
Also, are you connected to the internet or are you...

The computer may still be charging, or it may be just plain ruining your battery.
Most laptops only charge when they are on; at other times they are just "obsorbing" energy.
If a laptop is left...

I'm no expert on it, but something must be wrong with the power from the battery and the adaptor. (Broken link maybe?)
I know that when I plug my Armada M700 in it does not have a light turn on at...