A problem on rebooting....

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This has only started to happen recently. I'm trying to find a way how to fix this, but I honestly don't know how.

The thing is, my computer will not "Restart" properly. Whenever I pick "Shut Down" from the "Turn Off Computer" part of the Start Menu, the computer can be turned back on with no fuss. However, should I pick "Reboot", when it gets beyond the initial "ACER" screen, it then gets ornery and says "Primary Master Hard Disk Fail" and asks for a boot disc. If I try to continue, using F1, all it does is show a kind of static, and I have to turn my computer off at the back. Turning it on again by that switch, and no worries. Shutting it down properly from the Start Menu (not restarting), and it's fine. Rebooting, however, is when it's stroppy.

Anyone have any idea what is going on, and how I may fix it? Normally, since I can shut the computer down normally (as long as I don't restart it), it wouldn't bother me, but my brother is going to be getting this computer soon, and I don't want him whingeing. In fact, if I'm right, this business with the restart being stroppy started when he attempted to do a defrag AND a disk cleanup simultaneously.

I would like some help. I can get access to Windows XP disks, if necessary, but anyone have a clue?

Is this computer going to see use as a gaming platform?

Do you know how to go into your BIOS configuration?
I'd like to know the boot order specifically.
Do you have any CDs or floppies in your computer?
What text is displayed before you see the Windows XP loading screen?

It had, but I dunno. It only had enough grunt to play Warcraft III, but because of problems surrounding the last time I tried to install that I haven't used it for games since. I think the game that's going to tax it when my brother gets it is "Age Of Empires II". He has less interest in actually getting the latest computer games, though actual video games can be another matter...

1. Not exactly.
2. I dunno exactly what a boot order is.
3. Never at the time, and no USB sticks in there either.
4. Dunno off by heart. First the "ACER" screen, which I think has the BIOS entry, then a general boot-up screen with a series of DOS-style tables, then the Windows XP loading screen.

Do a backup, this could be a sign of impeding doom for your hard drive.

Ahayes is right.

I think the thing is on the verge of dying.

Even though it works alright when normally shutting down completely, then restarting?

I could be wrong, but if I'm right you'd be glad you backed up.

I'm particularly interested in the DOS style tables, if you could post that somehow. Both on a hard boot (when you turn the computer on) and a soft boot (when you reset).

When the computer starts up it should tell you how to go into the BIOS, do that and look for information on the boot order or something similar.

Most of my important stuff is on a memory stick. I'm getting a new computer soon, for uni work, but that won't be for a few weeks. I actually phoned a knowledgeable friend (he's got three computers, uses games a lot and is taking an actual degree in computer programming), and he suggested I run Error Check (something I haven't done for a while). He also suggested that the instructions on the computer related to rebooting may had got redirected during the Defrag/Disk Clean-Up fiasco, hence why it didn't affect the normal shut-down.

Problem solved, people. All it needed was a simple Disk Check on booting. It rebboted afterwards with no stroppiness, and to make sure, I rebooted the computer myself. Nunc Id Vides, Nunc Ne Vides. Thank you both for your help. I am truly grateful.

I had an old Compaq Presario 4504 w/ 48Mb of ram, a 200Mhz Pentium, and Windows 98SE that
was bought back in `97. Same issue with that, I constently had to unplug the computer just to turn it off and always had a hard time booting it up.[ It will give me floppy drive, CD-drive, keyboard, or problems booting up windows.] I was using it is a computer to play and edit
levels for DOOM but i finally stripped the memory and processor out and threw the piece of sh*t
away.