My computer is refusing to load anything other than safe mode, and appears to be deteriorating.

It started as jerkiness after booting up (mouse, audio, and general computer noises were jolting a lot). Then my computer stopped recognising the DVD drive (in general, not just in XP). Then it would often freeze shortly after booting up. Then it would get stuck in a cycle of rebooting at the loading XP screen. And sometimes now, it won't even get that far; freezing seconds after I turn the machine on.

The STOP error I'm getting when it keeps rebooting is:
0x0000007e (0xc0000005, 0xad325988, 0xbacc346c, 0xbacc3168)

I understand that the first error is registry related, and if I could only wipe my hard disk then maybe at least part of the problem would be fixed. But even since buying a new DVD drive, discs are still not recognised by anything more than the whirring sound of the drive starting up (yes, I have changed the boot order in the BIOS to put Cd-rom first).

I have checked the RAM by removing it, a piece at a time, but the problem persists. Could it be related to the IDE cables as my DVD drives are playing up? Does anybody have any suggestions? Whatever help I can get would be hugely appreciated.

Thank you.

You can boot from the Windows XP cd, and do a fresh install, reformatting the drive in the process.

Before doing that, check what is causing the instability issues. It could be power supply related. The cheaper ones don't last very long.

Check if the CPU fan is still on properly. It may have come loose.

Thanks for the help. I have since wiped my HD and found some issues remaining. I made a new post here: https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/computers-beginners/definite-hardware-failure-but-what-105824.html

The power unit fan is still spinning. I don't know if I should be able to feel anything by placing my hand near it, but all I can feel is the back of the motherboard fan blowing on it. Would the power supply possibly cause computer jerkiness (general stuttering with mouse, and sound etc.)?

Thanks again.

Most power supplies will have a fan blowing, so that only indicates that the supply is on. What you want from the supply is clean power delivery.

For example, if the supply was rated for 15A at +12V, and your system uses 12A, then a good power supply will be able to supply 12A 24/7 with negligible variations in current and voltage.

A cheaper one, might give you 12A for a few minutes, then as parts start to heat up, etc. the supply will have trouble maintaining 12A and/or start introducing variations, etc. trying to maintain that 12A.

It may fluctuate enough causing intermittent problems like you described.

Open up the case, and see if you can read the manufacturers name, and the specs for +12V, +5V, +3.3V.

Very nice answer! I printed it lol...