WinXP hangs on boot without USB drive attached

[JeffB]

Recently cloned WinXP machine, loaded patches, etc. If I remove the
USB drive (ext) the system hangs about the point where the screen
'blanks' before the login screen appears.

If I power down and add the USB drive, it boots fine.

any ideas?

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[Bob I]

USB set in the BIOS boot order?

 

[JeffB]

hmmm - I'll check that, but I do see the regular WinXP boot page and
this USB isn't bootable, etc.

It's starts to boot off C: (HD light active), just chokes without the
USB.

USB set in the BIOS boot order?

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[JeffB]

remarked out ref to USB boot in BIOS. removed some refs to that drive
from registry (although I think that's incorrect)

no change

hmmm - I'll check that, but I do see the regular WinXP boot page and
this USB isn't bootable, etc.

It's starts to boot off C: (HD light active), just chokes without the
USB.

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