Re: Boot up failure



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Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375



"Bill Ridgeway" <info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:uFe8$%23mVHHA.5060@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have a computer which, on boot up, consistently shows the error message "Reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot device and press a key" - and doesn't go any further.

I have checked all connections. The hard disk is seen OK in CMOS. I suspect either the hard disk is faulty or corrupt.

If you suspect a faulting or corrupt disk run a diagnostic utility to check the disks integrity downloadable from the disk manufacturers support site.


Is my diagnosis correct and, if not, what may be causing this problem please?

Possibly, possibly not. It may be the boot.ini is corrupt or the MBR, hard to say. Will the system boot to Safe Mode?

A few things to try:
Two ways to make it easy:
1)
Click Start > Run, type in: msconfig and press Enter.
Click the Boot.ini tab.
Click on an entry if more than one's listed under OS's in the upper window to hilite it.
Click the selection box next to /Safeboot to add it to the hilit OS entry.
Select an option on the right by clicking one of the selection tic circles to add it to the hilit OS entry.
Change the Timeout which is in Seconds to a value you feel comfortable with.
Click Apply > Ok.
Reboot.
If only one OS was listed the machine will boot to Safe Mode. If more than one was listed you will boot to an OS boot menu, use the up/down arrow within the timeout limit to select the SafeBoot entry if not selected and press Enter to boot to Safe Mode.

2)
Copy/paste the below into the boot.ini and edit it to match what's present up to and including the = sign.

Or copy/paste what's already present and edit the line to add /SB:Minum to the end of the entry already listed.

Note: To help against human error, ^ = 1 space. If you copy/paste, delete the ^ and make sure you have/leave 1 space, it's very prudent to boot properly. If you decide to type in the entry, don't type the ^'s. Although you could change the name in the quotes if you wanted, make sure the quotes are not removed.

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="MS XP Pro Safe Mode" ^ /fastdetect ^ /safeboot:minimal

You can get to and edit the boot.ini in a few other ways aside from msconfig:
Right click MyComputer.
Click Properties > Advanced tab > "Startup and Recovery" Settings button > Edit button.

Open either MyComputer or Explorer.
Boot.ini is in the %root% c:\ but may be hidden and/or need the attributes changed, if not hidden open it in Notepad to edit/save.

If it is hidden:
On the Menu bar click Tools > Folder Options > Views tab.
Scroll down and under "Hidden files and Folders" change the selection to "Show hidden files and folders".
Unselect "Hide extensions for know file types" and "Hide protected operating system files".
Click Apply > Ok.
Open/edit/save using Notepad.

If you need to remove attributes and edit boot.ini anther way:
Start > Run, type in: cmd and press Enter.
At the prompt type each command below pressing Enter after each, note ^ = 1 space:

attrib ^ -r ^ -s ^ -h ^ c:\boot.ini
edit c:\boot.ini You may have to use the KB to navigate in order to edit.

When finished editing replace the attributes and close the cmd window:

attrib ^ +r ^ +s ^ +h ^ c:\boot.ini
exit

If none of the above work and you still have trouble getting to Safe Mode, you may have to boot to the Recovery Console in order to edit the boot.ini.



Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314058

How to enable an administrator to log on automatically in Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;312149

How to install the Windows Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;216417



How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307654

How to remove Windows Recovery Console
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555032



How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353/en-us

How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434/en-us



How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341


Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions



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