Widows XP startup

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jnp5053

2 days ago I upgraded from Windows ME to Windows XP. When I turn the computer
on or restart it I get a blackscreen with the option of Windows XP or Windows
default. The Windows default is highlighted. If I leave it on that option the
computer restarts. I have to highlight XP and press enter. Most of the time
it will then go to the Welcome page. Sometimes it goes to another blackscreen
that has the option to start in safe mode etc. Also when I went to the
Microsoft page it says it doesn't detect an operating system.
Any help for this technically challenged person?
 
jnp5053 said:
2 days ago I upgraded from Windows ME to Windows XP. When I turn the computer
on or restart it I get a blackscreen with the option of Windows XP or Windows
default. The Windows default is highlighted. If I leave it on that option the
computer restarts. I have to highlight XP and press enter. Most of the time
it will then go to the Welcome page. Sometimes it goes to another blackscreen
that has the option to start in safe mode etc. Also when I went to the
Microsoft page it says it doesn't detect an operating system.
Any help for this technically challenged person?
Click to expand...

Just out of curiosity. what Microsoft page did you go to that said it doesn't
detect an operating system? That said, you can try the following procedure to
change which option it listed first on that black screen.

First off, do one of the following to launch the System Properties sheet.
1. Go to Control Panel and click on Performance and Maintenance. On the next
screen, click on the System icon.
2. Right click My Computer and select Properties from the menu.
3. Hit the Windows + Pause/Break keys at the same time. The Windows key is
located between Ctrl and Alt on your keyboard. Pause/Break will be on the top
row on the right hand side or your keyboard.

Once you've opened System Properties, click on the Advanced tab. Here's what you
should see displayed on your screen.

http://www.microsoft.com/library/me...sonalize/67392-system-properties-click-ok.gif

Hit the Settings button in the Startup and Recovery section. This should launch
a page similar to this;

http://common.packardbell.com/itemnr/instr_winxp_bsod1/wxp_startup_and_recovery.jpg

Click on the arrow key next to the entry in the Default operating system box to
display all options. Click on the entry for Windows XP so that it is now
displayed in the box. For the moment, change the entry for "Time to display list
of operating systems" to 10 seconds using the down arrow next to the box.

Click OK twice and restart your computer. Wait for the countdown from 10 seconds
and see if it boots into Windows XP.

If you're now booting into XP, go back and open the System Properties sheet,
click on the Advanced page. Hit the Settings button as before to bring up the
Startup and Recovery sheet. Hit the Edit button. This should open your boot.ini
file in Notepad. Copy the contents of this file and paste it into a response to
this message if you want further assistance.

Also, open your C drive and let me know if there is a folder named Windows and
another with a similar name.

Good luck

Nepatsfan
 
Nepatsfan I tried the what you told me and it is the same. Under the default
operating system it says "Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin/fast
detect/

The Windows XP page is the one that didn't detect my operating system but it
is detecting it now. But the Windows update page is blank when I try to go
there.
 
Nepatsfan I forgot to answer about the Windows folder. There is a Windows
folder. No other similar.
 
First off, did you get a chance to check the contents of your boot.ini file?

Go to System Properties, click on the Advanced tab, hit the Settings button in
the Startup and Recovery section. That should open the Startup and Recovery
sheet where if you hit the Edit button, Notepad will open your boot.ini file.
Copy the contents of your boot.ini file and paste it into a response to this
message. I'm curious as to why you're getting the option of selecting what
operating system to start.

As for the blank Windows update page, the only time I've run across that issue
has been when there's been a problem with certain scripting files. Below are a
couple of Microsoft articles with proposed solutions. You might want to try the
simple procedures and pass on the one that outlines editing the registry. If you
continue to have problems with Windows Update, you might want to post a question
to the Windows Update newsgroup.

Several dialog boxes are blank
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=831430

You receive a scripting error or a blank page when you visit the Windows Update
Web site or the Microsoft Update Web site
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/836948

Here's the WU newsgroup site.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...=microsoft.public.windowsupdate&lang=en&cr=US

Nepatsfan
 
Okay here is the info from the boot.ini file:

[boot loader]
timeout =10
default = multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS /usepmtimer

[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /usepmtimer
 
The contents of your boot.ini file indicate you only have one instance of
Windows installed on your computer. That's the way it should be.

If you did have multiple installations of Windows on your computer, you'd see a
screen similar to this one when you started your computer.

http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/sampchap/6795/0735619743-04.gif

I'm guessing that the black screen you see when you first start up your computer
is different than this one. If that's the case then it's possible that someone
installed a boot manager program on your computer or it's a feature that's built
into the system's BIOS. Either way, it would appear to be looking for the old
installation of Windows ME. You might want to check on your Start menu for a
program that could be a boot manager.

As for the black screen you see when the computer starts, is there anything else
displayed on the screen other than the two options, Windows XP or Windows
default? Please be as descriptive as possible and includes as much information
as you can.

Nepatsfan


jnp5053 said:
Okay here is the info from the boot.ini file:

[boot loader]
timeout =10
default = multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS /usepmtimer

[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /usepmtimer


Nepatsfan said:
First off, did you get a chance to check the contents of your boot.ini file?

Go to System Properties, click on the Advanced tab, hit the Settings button
in
the Startup and Recovery section. That should open the Startup and Recovery
sheet where if you hit the Edit button, Notepad will open your boot.ini file.
Copy the contents of your boot.ini file and paste it into a response to this
message. I'm curious as to why you're getting the option of selecting what
operating system to start.

As for the blank Windows update page, the only time I've run across that
issue
has been when there's been a problem with certain scripting files. Below are
a
couple of Microsoft articles with proposed solutions. You might want to try
the
simple procedures and pass on the one that outlines editing the registry. If
you
continue to have problems with Windows Update, you might want to post a
question
to the Windows Update newsgroup.

Several dialog boxes are blank
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=831430

You receive a scripting error or a blank page when you visit the Windows
Update
Web site or the Microsoft Update Web site
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/836948

Here's the WU newsgroup site.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...=microsoft.public.windowsupdate&lang=en&cr=US

Nepatsfan
Click to expand...
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