www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

I'll be honest with you - I would not like to advise you on what to do so remotely with the possible consequences

I think this should be a simple job to sort out for a IT guy hands-on - probably fixed within a basic call-out charge type fee if you get someone in

yep think you may be right
i am assuming £35 to £50 if it take 15 mins

I would check your local papers for the small ads in the back. I think £35 should more then cover it if it is a local chap on his own (that is probably about what I would charge)

Reading that lot ^^^^ thank God I have a Apple iMac G5.

ok chaps phoned my brother who phoned his chap
"try system restore"
seems ok now will know after several "normal starts"

thanks for all your help so far

Well that is handy.

I like system restore and it is very useful, but I would not have thought it suitable for this problem

I will remember to consider that in future

using on screan board

ok keyboard sorted now
system restore didnt work

the computer obviously started because system restore used a diferent path

I will remember to forget that in future (I didn't think it should have worked )

In essense, I think the computer is not booting properly because the MBR (Master Boot Record) is mucked up. There is a copy of it, and the Windows emergency repair disk which no one makes when they install the OS can repair that.
The EBCD file that I linked you to will also do that.

fingers crossed for you