[torontos]

I have an Emachines T2685 that I had to replace the motherboard. I had to purchase a new copy of Windows XP which I loaded on the original hard drive and windows booted normally. Shortly after that, that hard drive crashed and I replaced the hard drive and reloaded Windows XP. However, now the computer will not boot XP directly. I have to run PowerSuite 2007 to get to XP and then it will boot windows and the computer will run normal after that. How do I get the computer to boot directly to XP without have to go thru PowerSuite (and save the 4-5 minutes it takes to get to it).

Thank you,
Steve

[Mike0001]

You have not explained how you "reloaded Windows XP". This is perhaps the key to your problems. If you boot from your Windows XP CD, there is an option to go into the recovery console. Once in there, try the commands

fixmbr C:
fixboot C:
copy D:\I386\NTLDR C:\
copy D:\I386|NTDETECT.COM C:\
bootcfg /rebuild

where c: is your hard drive and d: your cd drive. You may not need all these commands.

[sparky33]

Sounds like fixboot will be the most likely option

[torontos]

I did as Mike0001 said and nothing changed. The computer still starts up on a biostar screen, runs a screen about temp, fan rpm, etc. then I can only boot Windows XP thru Powersuite or my windows installation disc (this whole process takes 4-5 minutes). Any other suggestions to get XP to load directly after my computer is turned on. And I when I reloaded Windows XP I did it directly from the installation CD.

[serverguy]

By Powersuite I assume you mean the boot CD by Spotmau?

Clearly the fact that XP works fine once you get to it means that there is nothing wrong with Windows itself.

For some reason it is just no being booted though....

I know you have already done some of these but could you go through them in this order again for me. Sorry..

Go back to the recovery console.

1. Type chkdsk C:\ /R and hit enter, let this run to fix any possible partition problems.

2. Type fixmbr, press enter and tell it yes.

3. Type fixboot C:, press enter and tell it yes again.

4. Type bootcfg /list and verify that Windows XP is listed here, if doesn't list anything type bootcfg /rebuild and add the windows installation when it asks. Follow through the rest of the prompts.

This last step is the most important one. That is what tells the computer where Windows is and probably the cause of your problems.

Post back with the results.

[torontos]

Serverguy,

Yes, it is the CD by Spotmau that I currently use.

I did the steps you stated, I get the following after typing bootcfg /list:
[1] "1"
OS Load Options: 1
OS Location: C:\Windows

[2] ""
OS Load Options:
OS Location: C:\Windows

[3] "MS Windows XP Home Edition"
OS Load Options: /noexecute =optin /fast detect
OS Location: C:\Windows

I stopped here. Should I type bootcfg/ rebuild and if so, what do I do next?

Thank you,
Steve

[serverguy]

I am not sure quite what has happened but before we go editing the boot.ini file directly try this:

Note: You will have to boot XP with the boot cd one more time.

• Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK
• On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
• Under System Startup, click Edit.
• At the top, where it says Default Operating System see what it says and change it to the operating system you want it to boot.

So, if you have XP Pro change it to say something like: Windows XP Preofessional /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

Also, click on Edit next to where it says To edit the start up files manually, click Edit.

It should open in notepad. Copy and paste the entire contents of it into your next post.

Hopefully the first part of this fix should get XP booting straight off.

[torontos]

Serverguy,

I changed the default to MS Windows XP Home Edition to no avail.

Here is what comes up in notepad:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="1" 1
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS=""
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons

Thank you

[serverguy]

Ok. There are a couple of redundant entries in there. Also there seems to be some spaces where there shouldn't be but this might just be from pasting it to the board.

Anyway, here is a new boot.ini file for you.

Note: This step should only be performed by the topic starter. Doing this on another computer may render it un-bootable.

• Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK
• On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
• Under System Startup, click Edit.

First, I would like to make a backup of boot.ini in case we have a problem.

In the Notepad editor that opens, click File - Save As and save it as backup.txt to your desktop.

Close Notepad

Now lets edit the file.

Click on Edit again from the Startup and Recovery window

Select all the text in the Notepad editor that opens and delete it all.

Then copy and paste the text from the Code box below into Notepad.

Note: Make sure you only copy what is in the Code box and do not include the word "Code".

[boot loader]
timeout=2
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" 
/cmdcons

Check that what you paste into the Notepad window appears exactly the same as it does in the Code box.


Then, click on File - Save in Notepad

Close Notepad and restart the computer.

Let me know what happens.

Also, how long would you like to see the screen that gives you the option to boot into Safe Mode for? I have set it to appear for 2 seconds but if you would like to see it for longer this can be changed later.

[torontos]

Serverguy,
I did as you stated with no luck. I verified after restarting my computer that the notepad had changed and it had. Again, my computer first loads the biostar screen and then a hardware monitor screen. It will then only boot windows via powersuite or the windows xp installation disc. Also, 2 seconds is fine.

Thanks