HELP!!!!

[Precomp]

I've been using Xp pro for a while now, and have 3 HD that I use to install XP pro on. Everytime I reformat and install XP pro, it leaves the old multiboot option at startup. (meaning when I start the PC, it gives me a list of old XP installs to choose from. All but one is now being used.)

How do i get it back to single boot without asking which version I want to boot from?

 

[itsgenekramer]

It sounds like you have an OS installed on all 3 HD's. Windows sees these as separate systems (OS's) and will prompt you to select the one you want to boot to. Probably will need to reformat the 2 drives that have an OS installed. Or remove the OS's.

 

[jrbarnett]

Hello

The multi boot menu and default timeout is controlled from a file called BOOT.INI which you will find in the root of the C: drive, but you will need a tick in the Explorer options "Show hidden/system files" and untick "Hide protected operating system files". Copy the file for backup purposes, right click the original and choose properties and untick the Hidden, System and Read Only attributes.
Load it into Notepad.

You will see one entry for each of the installed systems, the default entry and the timeout to load the default operating system.

Just remove the entries for the invalid operating system installations and save the file.
Reapply the Hidden, System and Read Only attributes, then shut down and restart the PC to test.

Important: If you aren't sure which entry is which (ie they all have the same label) just adjust the descriptive text, then reboot and ensure you know which one is the setup that boots correctly before removing the invalid entries.

John

 

[Precomp]

They used to be seperate OS, but I feformatted all but one. There is nothing on the drives, but files I have DLed and stored there.

 

[bcastner]

1. You can use Start, Run, msconfig.exe to edit the Boot.ini settings;

2. You can use System Properties.
right-click My Computer, Properties, Advanced, Startup and Recovery - Settings, and click Edit in the top menu box.

3. My personal preference:

Install and access the Recovery Console. In your case you want to use the \winnt32.exe /cmdcons installation method:

http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...efault.aspx?scid=kb;en-gb;307654&ln=en-gb

Command Reference:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=314058

I would:

bootcfg /Rebuild
fixboot c:

Reboot into normal mode of windows.

Reference:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;291980

 

[Precomp]

THANK YOU jrbarnett....YOU ARE THE MAN. Now the next question is what exactlly do I delete...this is what I have:

[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 Longhorn" /FASTDETECT
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /FASTDETECT
signature(ebb7ebb7)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /FASTDETECT
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /FASTDETECT

I beleive I know which one I want to keep...so thats not a problem. I just need to know where to delete from an to.

Thanks man

 

[bcastner]

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

 

[bcastner]

I am a little concerned about what appears as a corurpted GUID entry for one of your Windows Install.

If you have made GUID conversions to the ARC assignments, all bets are off.

Do what I suggeted two posts ago, use the bootcfg /Rebuild and do not try a manual edit immeditately.

 

[Precomp]

Im not sure what you mean? Please be specific...

 

[bcastner]

"signature(ebb7ebb7)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS"

is not an ARC path. It looks like you attempted to create GUID entries for the disk, or something did.

Follow my earlier advice to let bootcfg /rebuild find and repair your boot.ini file.

On the issue of GUID device descriptions, see for example:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=300415

 

[Precomp]

Im still not sure how to fix that specific issue, but this is what I have now:

[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

Its working well, with no issues. 1 thought I do have, could the issue have to do with that drive being a 200GB ATA/133 on a conroler?

 

[bcastner]

I raised a potentially problematic issue. Your results look clean.

Ignore my earlier post, it had to do with the odd non-ARC assignment, but your boot.ini looks fine.

 

[Precomp]

Thank you anyways...I used a combination of yours and jrbarnett solutions. I edited the BOOT.INI file to identify the drive I wanted too keep (Thank god I did, I guessed the worng one) and then deleted the ones I didn't need under MSCONFIG. It worked great. Now I have no multi boot screen, and can reformat my drive to get rid of the next issues I'm having.....(for another day maybe) Thanks guys

 

[RebeccaLynn]

A more discriptive subject line, other than just HELP!!! might bring even more help


Becca

Somtimes, the easy answer is the hardest to find.

Still under construction ...

http://webpages.charter.net/rlmsoft