Computer turns on, starts up ok... can hear the start up music, hard drive lightworks ok, screen goes black... after 10 mins. when this prob. started.... now it stays on (see the icons) for abt 1 min.- 30 secs. then it goes all black and you can see the icons very faintly in the background... using a torch Can't see nothing ALL Black screen

won't get the check disc option until it boots up and from your description is is a hard drive problem
take it in for a proper diagnosis

That could be the monitor or the video/graphics card in the computer. Try another monitor as a test to narrow the problem. If it's a laptop, therer's usually a VGA port where another monitor can be installed. You might need to press a Fn key combination to turn on the second monitor in that case.

hmmm sounds like the computer is facing a problem with the operating system or the hard drive is starting to fail on you

I HAD HE SAME PROBLEM
IT SEEMS YOUR HARD DRIVE IS DEAD
NOW ORDER A NEW SATA HARD DRIVE AND REINSTALL THE WINDOW
IT WORKS

Turn the computer on.
Press F8, repeatedly, until you see a start-up menu.
Choose "safe mode".

If it boots, open All Programs.
Open Accessories.
Open System Tools.
Open System Restore.
Select a date/time when your computer _was_ working correct, and go "back" to that checkpoint.

If that does not help, and it boots, use the Windows XP/Vista/7 "File and Settings Transfer Wizard" to create one file, holding all your E-mail, contacts, and music files.
Copy that file to an external disk-drive.

Then, take a deep breath, and reinstall Windows.
Reinstall MS Office.
Reinstall your anti-virus software.
Reinstall Adobe Reader.
Reinstall your other program.
Finally, reload from the external disk-drive.

Does the computer emit any beeps? If so, how many beeps?
One quick loud BEEP, at start up means that all is loading OK. If you get more than one BEEP sound, than you could have Memory ( RAM ) that is, or has failed. Sometimes, if one of the internal fans has failed or is failing, a computer will start up, and than shut itsself down again. Look for any error messages that may come across the screen. Get on another computer, and search for "computer beep codes". If you have the original manual that came with the computer, sometimes it will list beep codes in it. As it has been pointed out, it could be the hard drive also, check the beep codes, that is a good place to start.

Ok,Try safe mode with command prompt,If you can get to the command prompt
Type these in one at a time and press enter ( let each one completely finish before typing the next one.)

Bootsect.exe /NT60 c:
Bootrec.exe /FixMbr
Bootrec.exe /FixBoot
Bootrec.exe /ScanOs

Bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd
+
bcdedit.exe /import C:\Boot\BCDBackup

i can give u some tell tale signs also
boot your comp in bios if it goes off wd in 10 min
the mother board needs to be replaced pls contct manu
if not needs to perform recovery
buit as u said tht it is warm,ing
it needs to be benched

Well since you seem to have tried a bunch of thing why nor go a bit more and replace your video card. Below is a link to your PC:
http://support.packardbell.com/uk/item/index.php?pn=P280110001&g=1400

Sounds like your hard drive is crashed. You will most likely need to replace it. Before it gets totally crashed try to backup your important data while it is running.

Hope this helps you