Stop message, errors in event management, booting problems

Recently, I disconnected all of the cables to my computer. When I reconnected them, I had the computer on but I accidentally hit the off switch on the strip board to which my computer was connected. I turned on the switch to the strip board and turned on the computer. It would not boot up and it kept crashing.

I got a message that said that a strip board was turned off or the computer shut down to protect the files. I was given a few choices: click Start Windows Normally, Start at last functioning point, and a number of SAFE features. I tried the Safe mode feature. Still it did not work.
I tried Restore. That did not work. I shut the system down for a day and when I turned it on again, it booted up. A few days later, it began crashing again. It repeatedly crashes.

I have tried the F8 technique, SAFE MODE, BOOT .NIT, MISCONFIG, sometimes it works most times it does not. If I shut down for several hours, and turn it back on it boots up sometimes it does not. When it does boot up, if I try to use a virus cleaner, it shuts down. Or if I try to open a disk it will not open.

I did install the debug wiz but I do not know what to do after installing it. That is if that is the solution to the problem.

My Compaq Presario is the 5240. This was purchased with Windows 98 installed.
I had XP installed in 2006 and it has worked. I have never had any problems with
it until recently when is simply began turning off and turning on repeatedly.

It never freezes. It just turns off and on, and it never goes to WINDOWS.
Sometimes it stops and the Microsoft color flag comes on and it stays there
on a black screen.

I would turn off the system and after hours of being off, it would boot up to
the desk top, but if I tried going online it would turn off and on again.

I did try the .dmp suggestion. I got to the files but I was lost. I did
not know what to do after getting there.

I have a copy of WINDOWS XP 2002 edition that I can install but I
really would like to avoid that because I am not swift on my feet when
it comes to computer problems.

The copy of WINDOWS XP that is in my system is not from the copy
that I have access to now. The copy that is giving me problems was
installed by a computer technician.

So, at the moment, all the computer is doing is turning on and turning off
repeatedly. It gives me choices, START WINDOWS NORMALLY, START
AT THE LAST KNOW WORKING POINT, SAFE MODE, AND OTHER CHOICES.
I have tried all of them, but nothing works.

Please let me know what I should do now.

Thank you.

Regards,

Crumblouie