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Minor boot question

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by JAK, 2005/09/22.

  1. 2005/09/22
    JAK

    JAK Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    When I boot up, before Windows opens, it jumps to a screen that says to choose which system you are using. Then it lists Win XP Pro and Win XP Professional. I must click on one or it will choose auto. after 30 seconds. Is there a way to bypass this screen?
     
    JAK,
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  2. 2005/09/22
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Hi JAK!

    Never heard of that one. Do You mean XP-home and XP-pro? That can happen if a computer that previously was running XP-home is upgraded by a clean installation of XP-pro.

    Right-click the My computer icon on the desktop > Properties > Advanced > Startup and recovery - Settings > Edit

    Now, a window will open in Notepad, the file is boot.ini.

    Click "Format" and make sure that there is no checkmark for "Automatic ... ". (My computer speaks swedish and I have no idea what it reads in english. There must not be any wrapping of the lines but a scroll bar should appear at the bottom if the window isn't wide enough.)

    There should be two lines below [operating systems], one for Win XP Pro and one for Win XP Professional. One of them should be deleted but which one is difficult to tell. If it was/really is XP-home or XP-pro it is much easier.

    Prior to deleting any of them, restart the computer and in the multiboot screen, choose one and see what happens. It it boots then You know what to keep. To verifiy, restart and choose the other. Now the computer shouldn't boot and You know which line to delete in boot.ini.

    Make sure that You delete that single line only and that there is no empty line in the middle of the file.

    Maybe someone could confirm this before You proceed!

    If You make a mistake, You will have to repair boot.ini, using the XP-CD and the recovery console. I've never done that ...... :cool: ...... I am addicted to Norton Ghost!

    Christer
     
    Last edited: 2005/09/22
    Christer,
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  4. 2005/09/22
    goddez1

    goddez1 Inactive

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    Without asking why you have two xp pro version to boot into which may be an issue in its self, you have two options.

    1] edit boot.ini and delete the entry you do not want or the one that is not the default. You can do this via "msconfig ". Just highlight>rightclick and select delete. (Good practice is to backup your boot.ini first though and I suggest you do just that. You may wind up deleting an entry you didn't want to or find you want or need later.)

    2) *Right click on on my computer icon and select "properties "
    *click on the "advanced tab "
    *click on the "startup and recovery" settingsbutton
    *In the first category or section labeled "system startup" is check box called "Time to display list of operating systems ". This has arrows to choose or adjust time in seconds. Yours may be set to 30. Set this to a 0 or 1.

    The above #2 method does not eliminate the screen at bootup but does make it go by so fast that this does not become an nuisance.
     
    Last edited: 2005/09/22
    goddez1,
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  5. 2005/09/22
    JAK

    JAK Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Dummie me, it listed xp pro and 2000 professional. Leftover from upgrading to xp? Anyway, the 1 second change is perfect. Thanks alot.
     
    JAK,
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  6. 2005/09/22
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    JAK,
    we learn every day! Today it was that even an upgrade leaves remnants of the previous operating system.

    Editing out the line in boot.ini is the "permanent way" to correct the issue but changing the "time to display" will minimize the inconvenience.

    Christer
     
    Last edited: 2005/09/22
    Christer,
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  7. 2005/09/22
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Ann,
    thanks for the tip on checking which alternative is the default. The other is the one to delete in boot.ini.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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