Eliminating setup attempt at startup

Recently, on the advice of my computer's technical support personnel, I attempted to re-install WXP from my Dell installation disk. However, after loading some files from the disk, I decided to abort the setup at the first opportunity presented. I chose 'Quit' and then chose 'Restart WXP home edition'. Everything then started as usual. The problem now is that everytime I start my computer I'm presented with the option to continue with the installation, and everything stops until I choose 'Setup' or 'Start WXP home edition'. How might I be able to eliminate this unwanted offer to continue with the setup, and just have my computer go straight into WXP? A minor irritation, but one I could do without. Many thanks.

 

Run MSCONFIG > Startup Tab and see if there is a Setup reference there? If so, UNselect it.

 

There's no reference to Windows Setup in the Startup menu, Phil. Most of the items refer to programmes I can recognise.

 

You may have a boot.ini file in the root. You can edit it in notepad to choose the default you wish and also change the delay to zero. I use cut and paste to change it; helps avoid mistakes. You can also edit it in any DOS editor if you're on a FAT32 partition.
Back it up first, of course!

See this article also for another method.

 

Thanks, sparrow. This is what I found in System/startup & recovery/settings/edit:

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=5
Default=C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT= "Microsoft Windows XP Setup "

I'm not familiar with this area of things, but the last line has mention of WXP Setup. Any suggestions?

 

Original C:\boot.ini?:

edited:
[Boot Loader]
Timeout=0
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT= "Microsoft Windows XP Setup "

There shouldn't be a space before the s in windows; there's not in my edit!
I'd remove " /NoExecute=OptIn" unless you're running an AMD64. Leaving it in won't hurt, though.

 

Run msconfig and on the general tab, check the box to use original boot.ini file, then apply and reboot. Check the boot.ini file again to see if the C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT= "Microsoft Windows XP Setup "
string has been removed. The /NoExecute=OptIn switch was added by SP2.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/sp2mempr.mspx

 

That may be true in some cases, but I wasn't aware that Dell is shipping XP with SP2, and in any case the idea of running more software at startup when there's no demonstrated need is, IMO, a bad one.

There is no need to delete the line in question; it is inoperative in my edit, and is easily activated again if the OS isn't running correctly because of the partial reinstallation.

edit:
I'd be very interested to know if Lugwalker has the following:

 

Eliminatimg setup

Dave: Your site refers to XP Pro. I have Home as does Lugwalker.
I do not have Data Execution Prevention Tab. Should I ??

Joe R,.

 

From my link,

Did you install SP2? From the same link,

 

After making a mess of things I finally re-installed WinXp. For the last month my internet provider has been having difficulties with its services (the bigger company they rent the lines from upgraded their system which made my modem incompatible). Now all is clean and speedier. All's well that ends well!

I thank you all for your helpful suggestions.

 

Hi Joe,

I do not have Data Execution Prevention Tab. Should I ??

Comes w/SP2.

Regards - Charles