My CPU continues to turn off completely when I try to power it on. It goes as far as the black screen with white letters (asking to start normally and the other options). Please help, I have tons of school work that I would like to recover if possible.

Something corrupted your hard drive.

How did you come to this conclusion? I'm trying to at a minimum recover my documents, is it possible for me to do this?

If it is getting to the screen with white letters can you select Safe Mode and, once it boots, use system restore to go back a few days.

If, on the other hand it is simply turning off it may well be a overheating (thermal) issue, so time to get the dust buster on it.

It's very unlikely that it a corrupted hard drive issue as this would give a very specific error message on boot, along the lines of Cannot find operating system.

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Originally Posted by Curlyben

If it is getting to the screen with white letters can you select Safe Mode and, once it boots, use system restore to go back a few days.

If, on the other hand it is simply turning off it may well be a overheating (thermal) issue, so time to get the dust buster on it.

It's very unlikely that it a corrupted hard drive issue as this would give a very specific error message on boot, along the lines of Cannot find operating system.

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If this is a desk top model, then the dirt situation would be in order.

Surprisingly enough Thermal issues can effect ANY machine, not just desktop units.
Always worth blowing the vents out with tinned air to keep things running well.

I think that the processor is overheating because it only takes a few seconds for it to heat up.replace the cpu fan cooler, and when you do that make sure you use some new thermal paste.

Guys, until the OP gives an update, lets stop panicking them with way out suggestions.

There is nothing to indicate either a corrupt drive or terminal thermal overload.

Simple troubleshooting needs to be done first, before recommending potentially major repairs.