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    unresolved windows XP boot issue

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by RugbyPlayer, Feb 17, 2012.

  1. RugbyPlayer

    RugbyPlayer Notebook Consultant

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    this is a question regarding my desktop computer which runs windows xp (it is an older rig)

    It is one that i built, but this windows boot issue i cant figure out.

    When i am booting the computer, if i do not have the windows xp disk in the drive, it doesnt boot. It doesnt give any error messages, it just gets to the point where it would normally show the "press any key to boot from disk" and i dont remember if it stay blank or shows a few periods

    If i have the XP disc in, it display the "press any key to..." and once that option times out, it boots into windows XP without an issue

    Any ideas?
     
    RugbyPlayer, Feb 17, 2012
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  2. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    is the drive sata or eide
    check to make sure (in bios) that your hardrive with windows is set as the first harddrive...
     
    gerryf19, Feb 18, 2012
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  3. RugbyPlayer

    RugbyPlayer Notebook Consultant

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    its sata and it is set to drive 0
     
    RugbyPlayer, Feb 18, 2012
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  4. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    Has it always done this? What is the OS? what other drives do you have. Is there a raid installed?

    It certainly sounds like your boot configuration data is messed up....
     
    gerryf19, Feb 18, 2012
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  5. RugbyPlayer

    RugbyPlayer Notebook Consultant

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    no its only done it after a fresh install about a month ago, just the normal drivers, my mobo, gfx card, wireless card. no raid controllers have ever been installed
     
    RugbyPlayer, Feb 18, 2012
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  6. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    post your boot.ini file....it is in the root of your drive as a hidden system file.

    I stupidly read over the subject...this is Windows XP so we won't need bcedit.
     
    gerryf19, Feb 18, 2012
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  7. RugbyPlayer

    RugbyPlayer Notebook Consultant

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    [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" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
     
    RugbyPlayer, Feb 18, 2012
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  8. RugbyPlayer

    RugbyPlayer Notebook Consultant

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    anybody have thoughts?
     
    RugbyPlayer, Mar 2, 2012
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  9. JOSEA

    JOSEA NONE

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    JOSEA, Mar 2, 2012
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  10. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    your boot.ini looks fine

    With SHOW SYSTEM AND HIDDEN FILES enabled in folder options, see if the following files are in the root

    - boot.ini
    - ntdetect.com
    - ntldr
     
    gerryf19, Mar 2, 2012
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  11. RugbyPlayer

    RugbyPlayer Notebook Consultant

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    all 3 are present in the root of my C drive
     
    RugbyPlayer, Mar 3, 2012
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  12. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    Hmm, ok, humor me

    Turn off your PC, open the side, and remove the cable to the cd-drive

    Now power up with just the harddrive plugged in

    Does it ask you for the default boot device? If so, select your c: drive and let the the computer boot up

    If it does not, does your computer boot up?

    If it does boot now, turn your computer back off and return the cable.

    Restart.

    What happens?
     
    gerryf19, Mar 3, 2012
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  13. RugbyPlayer

    RugbyPlayer Notebook Consultant

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    sorry about the long time since a reply, over a month but i solved the issue, it seemed to be related to the order my drives appeared in bios, my secondary data drive was listed before my raptor which is what contains the OS.

    I did a fresh install of xp, and because the drives were out of order they are now in windows too! My OS drive is listed as D wheres the data drive is listed as C, oh well, i hate drive letters anyways
     
    RugbyPlayer, Apr 8, 2012
    #13