Boot problem !

Boot up problem.

Have WindowsXP Pro. That program seems to be fast !
When we turn on the computer a lot of stuff takes place before the Monitor
screen gets warm eneough to be visible.

And that is a problem.
Or to be more specific we got a boot up problem as follows.

Somewhere there are two boot "strings to Windows XP Pro ".

Message is:

Please select the operating System to start.
Microsoft Windows XP Pro
Microsoft Windows XP Pro

The first "Microsoft Windows XP Pro" is highlighted.

And without waiting for me to make a selection that first choice is run.
That produces an error message:
"Windows could not start because of a computer disk hard drive problem.
Could not read from the selected boot path & disk hardware. "

However, if I act quickly eneough - and it is almost impossible to do - takes about six reboots or so
to hit the down arrow so it selects the second "Microsoft Windows XP Pro" line.

Once we do, then all is ok - Windows is installed.

Local computer chain store tech rep says it is probably due to an incomplete Windows
installation that created a boot record before going bad.
Then Windows was installed again without a problem, and created a seconc boot record.

How to fix? He suggested a reformat of the drive.

That's fine but we got a lot of programs that will require reinstalling etc.
Don't want to do that unless there is no other way out.
Any other suggestions ?

We do have strange problems !

Thanks

 

Right click My Computer > Properties > Advanced tab > Startup and Recovery > under "default OS..." > increase the time for the display.

Then click on edit. This will display the boot.ini file (XP's boot record) in Notepad, copy and paste into your next post.

No, there can be only one boot record; the tech is right about the incomplete install though.

Regards - Charles

 

Things are getting better!

Thanks.

We increased the time and it sure did help.
We see the data now before it zips on by.

Here is the information about the boot.
(there seems to be two lines.)

The first line that says "Microsoft Windows XP Pro "
that appears on my screen is the bad one.

The second line (same information) is the good one.

Note: Since we increased the time for display we now have
the opportunity to select the second line. That works fine.
We can live with that easily eneough.

However, if there is a way to keep the bad entry from showing
up - then we would appreciate any futher suggestions.

Thanks

 

Oh me - we forgot to insert the data !

We goofed.

Forgot to copy and paste the data from notepad.

Here it is:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

 

The easiest way to hide the invalid boot path is to run Msconfig-Boot.Ini the click Check All Boot Paths. It should tell you one path is invalid would you like to remove it.
Alternatively you can just choose to use the button to set a default boot path. Or you can switch the order so the good path is the default.
Many ways to choose from. Whatever pleases you.

 

Hi jbarker,

Delete the highlighted line from your boot.ini

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn



This is what it should look like:
[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 Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Follow the instructions on backing up the file here:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=289022

You're going to be doing a manual edit of the file - not using the boot.cfg command.

Regards - Charles

 

Thanks Christer Its early in morning for me.

Regards - Charles

 

Yes, that should work but be careful. Make sure you delete the correct line and make sure you edit the other one correctly. If you goof on either your system will be unbootable.

If you aren't comfortable editing it, a safer way would be to just set the other one as the default in the same place Charlesvar mentioned. Then reboot and if it boots to windows without any input from you (it should), then, if it does boot correctly, go back and change the timeout to zero. If you do this it should then boot directly to windows without you seeing the selection screen.

Wow! A bit extreme for this problem. May I suggest you stay away from that place for help?

 

Hi jbarker,

Zander has point, if something goes wrong:

Boot with the XP cd into the XP installtion (set the BIOS to boot from the cd).

You'll get a choice to run the Recovery Console.
Type help for a list of commands.

The one you want: Bootcfg - Automatically scans all local disks for Windows installations and configures and repairs entries in the operating system menu (Boot.ini).

Regards - Charles