About a month ago there was something wrong with my PC and I decided to attempt to reinstall XP to correct it. But at the last minute I aborted the reinstall and managed to solve the problem without the reinstall. However, now whenever I restart the computer, there would be 2 options that show up during startup (enter Windows XP setup, start Windows XP normally), and the XP CD isn't even in the drive. I would always have to select "start Windows XP normally" every time I start or restart or else it would enter setup automatically, which seems to be a hassle. Anyone know how to fix this? Any help is appreciated. P.S.:sorry for the long read
I have this same MS feature lately. I was so hurried that, I solved this by installing fresh copy of XP.
When you done that --- you created a NEW Boot.ini file on your HD. -- This is the first place a PC will look at when it boots . Windows XP use a configuration file called BOOT.INI to control how the operating system is booted and any startup options. By modifying the startup switches you can manage the boot process including booting Windows in Safe mode, creating a log file, or disabling the splash screen.. ect..... ! Open the root partition of your hard drive (normally C:\) and find the file called "BOOT.INI". You may need to enable hidden files under Folder > Options. Right-click on the file, select Properties and uncheck "Read-only" then click OK. You may like to make a backup of the file at this point to allow you to restore if you experience problems. Open the file in Notepad and under the [operating systems] section you will find a list of all the installed operating systems. To enable or disable startup options one can simply change or add any of the switches to the default command-line. For example you could add "/SOS" to the command-line to display the splash screen and view the drivers being loaded. What you want to do to correct yours is --> make it read as follows (Everything that is in BOLD in the[operating systems] ):- [boot loader] timeout=30 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS [bold][operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn[/bold] change Professional for Home if you have the home edition of Xp ! Save the file and reboot your Pc !
Thanks for the help, Jeanc1, but now I have a whole new set of problems, and it's all because of stupid me. I edited the boot.ini file and put in the info that needed to go in the file, but I accidentally forgot to change "Professional" to "Home", and when I restarted 2 new options showed up instead of the previous 2 (Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Windows default). I went back and edited the file again to change Professional to Home and when I restarted the same options showed up, but it did say Home ((Microsoft Windows XP Home, Windows default). Anyway to fix this?
Go to your Boot.ini and copy/paste in here what you have there now !! Select ALL then copy in here , please. This will give me a clue ! Smiles where you went wrong. Best, if you made a backup (( as I suggested...)) of the original you had.... copy paste that one in here !
I don't have a backup of the original , but here's what I have now in the file: [Boot Loader] Timeout=5 Default=C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT [Operating Systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
This should do it if you have no partition on the Hd that has the O/S -- ! [bold][Boot Loader] Timeout=30 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS [Operating Systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn[/bold] Slaps fingers --- for not backing up the boot.ini you had originally ! Laughin.... !
I just restarted it, and so far the startup is back to normal, no options to select or anything like that. Hopefully the problem won't come back. Again, thanks for the help, Jeanc1.
