F8 options at bootup?

  • Thread starter Thread starter James Houston
  • Start date Start date
J

James Houston

My home PC runs W2K Pro, which very politely asks me if I want to hit F8 for
boot options and waits 10 seconds for my reply before contiuning to load the
OS. My work PC runs Windows XP Home Edition, which isn't nearly as well
behaved. Is there any way to get XP to prompt for the F8 key before
continuing to boot? Thanks in advance.

Best,

Jim
 
| My home PC runs W2K Pro, which very politely asks me if I want to hit F8 for
| boot options and waits 10 seconds for my reply before contiuning to load the
| OS. My work PC runs Windows XP Home Edition, which isn't nearly as well
| behaved. Is there any way to get XP to prompt for the F8 key before
| continuing to boot? Thanks in advance.

Jim,

Try...

[Start]
| Run |
msconfig
[ok]
/BOOT.INI\
Timeout [ 10 ] secs.
 
Hi James,

Use as an example/guideline: Go to Start/Run and type in: C:\boot.ini and
copy/add what you want (Safe Mode or with Command Prompt), then save,
reboot.

Normal, Safe Mode and Command Prompt.

[boot loader]
timeout =15
default = multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Windows XP Normal"
/fastdetect /sos)

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Windows XP SAFE
Mode"/safeboot:minimal)

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "XP SAFE Mode with
Command Prompt" /safeboot:minimal(alternateshell)
 
Hi Kelly,

"Start/Run and type in: C:\boot.ini" does open boot.ini in Notepad.
However, (on my XP Pro SP1 box, at least), because the "boot.ini" file has a "Read Only" attribute, Notepad will not allow the edits
to be saved. The RO setting needs to be reset before editing, and set again after editing the file. Also need to | Folder Options |
/View\ | [_] Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).

The following works for me...

1. [Start] | Control Panel | System |

2. /Advanced\ "Startup and Recovery" [Settings]

3. [Edit] (this opens "boot.ini" in "Notepad" with RO reset, apparently)
Edit and save the file. Close "Notepad".

4. Check for errors:
[Start] | Run | MSCONFIG [ok] /Boot.ini\ [Check All Boot Paths]

---
Jan


| Hi James,
|
| Use as an example/guideline: Go to Start/Run and type in: C:\boot.ini and
| copy/add what you want (Safe Mode or with Command Prompt), then save,
| reboot.
|
| Normal, Safe Mode and Command Prompt.
|
| [boot loader]
| timeout =15
| default = multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
| [operating systems]
|
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Windows XP Normal"
| /fastdetect /sos)
|
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Windows XP SAFE
| Mode"/safeboot:minimal)
|
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "XP SAFE Mode with
| Command Prompt" /safeboot:minimal(alternateshell)
|
|
| --
| All the Best,
| Kelly
|
| Microsoft-MVP Windows® XP
| 2004 Windows MVP "Winny" Award
|
| Troubleshooting Windows XP
| http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
| http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
|
| Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
| http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
|
|
| | >
| > | My home PC runs W2K Pro, which very politely asks me if I want to hit F8
| > for
| > | boot options and waits 10 seconds for my reply before contiuning to load
| > the
| > | OS. My work PC runs Windows XP Home Edition, which isn't nearly as well
| > | behaved. Is there any way to get XP to prompt for the F8 key before
| > | continuing to boot? Thanks in advance.
| >
| > Jim,
| >
| > Try...
| >
| > [Start]
| > | Run |
| > msconfig
| > [ok]
| > /BOOT.INI\
| > Timeout [ 10 ] secs.
| >
| > ---
| > Jan
| >
| >
|
|
 
Thanks for the feedback, but it works fine here, Jan. Could very well be
with the folder options, etc. My systems have never had restrictions. That
said, as I don't the time to verify right now........ will get back to this.
:o)






+-J said:
Hi Kelly,

"Start/Run and type in: C:\boot.ini" does open boot.ini in Notepad.
However, (on my XP Pro SP1 box, at least), because the "boot.ini" file has
a "Read Only" attribute, Notepad will not allow the edits
to be saved. The RO setting needs to be reset before editing, and set
again after editing the file. Also need to | Folder Options |
/View\ | [_] Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).

The following works for me...

1. [Start] | Control Panel | System |

2. /Advanced\ "Startup and Recovery" [Settings]

3. [Edit] (this opens "boot.ini" in "Notepad" with RO reset, apparently)
Edit and save the file. Close "Notepad".

4. Check for errors:
[Start] | Run | MSCONFIG [ok] /Boot.ini\ [Check All Boot Paths]

---
Jan


| Hi James,
|
| Use as an example/guideline: Go to Start/Run and type in: C:\boot.ini
and
| copy/add what you want (Safe Mode or with Command Prompt), then save,
| reboot.
|
| Normal, Safe Mode and Command Prompt.
|
| [boot loader]
| timeout =15
| default = multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
| [operating systems]
|
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Windows XP Normal"
| /fastdetect /sos)
|
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Windows XP SAFE
| Mode"/safeboot:minimal)
|
| multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "XP SAFE Mode with
| Command Prompt" /safeboot:minimal(alternateshell)
|
|
| --
| All the Best,
| Kelly
|
| Microsoft-MVP Windows® XP
| 2004 Windows MVP "Winny" Award
|
| Troubleshooting Windows XP
| http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
| http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
|
| Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
| http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
|
|
| | >
| > | My home PC runs W2K Pro, which very politely asks me if I want to
hit F8
| > for
| > | boot options and waits 10 seconds for my reply before contiuning to
load
| > the
| > | OS. My work PC runs Windows XP Home Edition, which isn't nearly as
well
| > | behaved. Is there any way to get XP to prompt for the F8 key before
| > | continuing to boot? Thanks in advance.
| >
| > Jim,
| >
| > Try...
| >
| > [Start]
| > | Run |
| > msconfig
| > [ok]
| > /BOOT.INI\
| > Timeout [ 10 ] secs.
| >
| > ---
| > Jan
| >
| >
|
|
Click to expand...
 
Kelly,

I believe it is the security lockdown in SP1, another example of that being when clicking on a hyperlink to an executable file (such
as *.REG) a download dialog appears in which the [Save] button has the focus, and the checkbox "Always ask..." is ticked *and*
ghosted out.

I mention .REG because a certain academic using SP2 but who insists on posting in this newsgroup would click on a .REG but it would
*open* in a text editor. So, either SP2 is different from SP1 when clicking hyperlinks to executables, or he was using a web browser
other than MSIE, or he had a problem caused by some other 3rd-party app.
---
Jan


| Thanks for the feedback, but it works fine here, Jan. Could very well be
| with the folder options, etc. My systems have never had restrictions. That
| said, as I don't the time to verify right now........ will get back to this.
| :o)
|
| --
| All the Best,
| Kelly
|
| Microsoft-MVP Windows® XP
| 2004 Windows MVP "Winny" Award

| > Hi Kelly,
| > "Start/Run and type in: C:\boot.ini" does open boot.ini in Notepad.
| > However, (on my XP Pro SP1 box, at least), because the "boot.ini" file has
| > a "Read Only" attribute, Notepad will not allow the edits
| > to be saved. The RO setting needs to be reset before editing, and set
| > again after editing the file. Also need to | Folder Options |
| > /View\ | [_] Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
| > The following works for me...
| > 1. [Start] | Control Panel | System |
| > 2. /Advanced\ "Startup and Recovery" [Settings]
| > 3. [Edit] (this opens "boot.ini" in "Notepad" with RO reset, apparently)
| > Edit and save the file. Close "Notepad".
| > 4. Check for errors:
| > [Start] | Run | MSCONFIG [ok] /Boot.ini\ [Check All Boot Paths]
| > ---
| > Jan
 
David,

I use an OEM XP, with SP1 downloaded from MSFT.

Are you saying that a standard XP with SP1 *would* open a .REG in a text editor, if the default action for Reg were "Edit"?

I ask because I always right-click to download (Save As...) any file.
I set my default action for Reg as "Edit".

I have left-clicked a hyperlink to a .REG.
A download dialog box appears, in which the [Save] button has the focus, and the checkbox "Always ask..." is ticked *and* ghosted
out.
 
No I'm not saying that, I'm saying what I said. Now f*ck off you ugly troll.

--
----------------------------------------------------------
'Not happy John! Defending our democracy',
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/29/1088392635123.html

+-J said:
David,

I use an OEM XP, with SP1 downloaded from MSFT.

Are you saying that a standard XP with SP1 *would* open a .REG in a text editor, if the default action for Reg were "Edit"?

I ask because I always right-click to download (Save As...) any file.
I set my default action for Reg as "Edit".

I have left-clicked a hyperlink to a .REG.
A download dialog box appears, in which the [Save] button has the focus, and the checkbox "Always ask..." is ticked *and* ghosted
out.
---
Jan

Or his default action for Reg was Edit. Like some scripts set.

+-J said:
Kelly,

I believe it is the security lockdown in SP1, another example of that being when clicking on a hyperlink to an executable file (such
as *.REG) a download dialog appears in which the [Save] button has the focus, and the checkbox "Always ask..." is ticked *and*
ghosted out.

I mention .REG because a certain academic using SP2 but who insists on posting in this newsgroup would click on a .REG but it would
*open* in a text editor. So, either SP2 is different from SP1 when clicking hyperlinks to executables, or he was using a web browser
other than MSIE, or he had a problem caused by some other 3rd-party app.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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