Possible to re-load Windows XP by myself?

[FancyIdeas]

I have a money-crunch-computer problem:
My computer will not recognize any keyboard I try to use -
including PS2 and USB connections. Windows comes on at
startup, and I can use the mouse to move within programs,
AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT REQUIRE KEYBOARD INPUT.

Several local service people have told me that it could
be:
1) the motherboard, or
2) a software issue (i.e., XP being flakey.
They're quoting what sounds like a $200-300 ticket to
repair the computer and make it serviceable. I have a
LOT of data on it that I must have -- so I either have to
repair the computer or pay to have all this transferred
to another computer. Or, I suppose that pulling the hard
drive and installing it in another computer would be
another possibility.

If this IS an XP problem, is it possible for me to re-
load the XP operating system on my own? I have quite a
bit of previous experience with MS's tech support, and
have done some memory replacement, power pack replacement
and installation of CD/RW -- so I'm not afraid to tackle
it, as long as I have a pretty good chance of being
successful. But, I would require step by step
instructions to be able to do it.

Is there a resource that would walk me through a system
check that would save me the $100 to $150 it will take to
have a tech run a diagnostic, then reload the operating
system, if needed? (Most of the service people I talked
too said that it is usually about 75% probable that it
WILL turn out to be a software problem.)

The computer started out as an EMachine -- but before you
groan, I should say that it served me extremely well for
over 5 years, with only a power pack replacement. I have
upgraded it several times, so that about the only thing
that remains is the original AMD motherboard and the case.

I'm torn between junking it and using my probable $200-
300 on a new laptop that is beefed up like a desktop.
But, I still have to get the data transferred from the
old computer.

Arghhhh! Computers! Love!Hate!Love!Hate!

Help?
Thanks!
FancyIdeas

 

[Guest]

You can't put that hard drive in another computer,it
won't work i've tried many times,XP piracy problem it
wont run.So what you need to do is back up your
system,noticed you have a burner,this is good,transfer
the data you don't want to lose to disc,if I were to do
it it would take about 20 disc to back up everything.The
backup is just incase you lose data,you shouldn't with
what i'm boing to tell you but you'll never know.After
backups are burnt,put in your XP CD,in the drive,and boot
the system,,,get to the blue screen,I'm thinking that the
bios will recognize your keyboard,and select r button for
repair install,follow it thru,to repair install,when it
ask you to save your files select y for yes,run it
thru,when you boot to windows your files should still be
there,all the settings like desktop background,screen
saver,will be reset to factory default.Also all your
updates will also be removed,so the first thing to do
when you turn it on is windows update.The first thing
your computer does when it comes on is keyboard test then
mouse test,then floppy,CD Rom,then checks for the
operating system then boots to the hard drive,from the
mother board BIOS(basic input output services)If there's
something wrong with the keyboard it'll come up with a
black screen with the bios listing checks,one of the
listings would be keyboard error,and wont boot till it's
fixed,so I think your keyboard is OK.And if you go to do
a restore you'll be able to get there OK.....Just a
thought have you tried the onscreen display?Start---all
programs---accessories---accessibility---on screen
keyboard---click it,try it out.Also have you been in
control panel switch to classic view if you have to check
out the keyboard options,or the reginal and language,(it
may be on a different language.Well try that and I
wouldn't pay a computer guru one red cent.Try those and
do a repair install if you have to.