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General discussion

Does anyone know how to....

by denille May 28, 2005 9:50PM PDT

Create a bootup menu that intervenes at WinXP startup to offer boot options?

What I really want is, for my WInXP machine to Halt during the reboot-startup process, and present me with a menu (untimed) that offers :

1. Command prompt only
2. Safe Mode
3. Windows XP home

My system was built by me, and as such, doesnt have a Floppy drive (I know theyre useful in time sof crisis, but for me I find them a complete waste of time as I dont own a single floppy disk tyo my name)

I know I can do the above using the F8 button, but its hit and miss, and I`d really like to have the options appear automatically after each reset/restart.

Any suggestions anyone?

Thanks in advance Happy

Discussion is locked

11 Posts
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RUN - MSCONFIG
by TONI H May 28, 2005 9:54PM PDT

in the Advanced Options button on the General Page, there is a place to put a checkmark in 'show boot menu'....once it's checked it will show you that menu every time you boot or reboot the computer.

TONI

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MSConfig.....
by denille May 28, 2005 10:02PM PDT

Hi Tony,

on running MSConfig, Im presented with a Five-tabbed box.
General, System.Ini, Win.Ini, Services, Startup.

Under general, there are 3 options -
Normal Startup
Diagnostic Startup - load devices and services only
Selective Startup >> Process System.Ini, Process Win.Ini, Load system Services, Load Startup items.

I cant find any "show boot menu"... am I looking in the wrong area?

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(NT) (NT) That >>Advanced<< button?
by Cursorcowboy May 28, 2005 10:05PM PDT
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(NT) (NT) >>>>NO<<< "advanced" Button !!!
by denille May 28, 2005 10:08PM PDT
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(NT) (NT) Boot.INI tab has it...
by TONI H May 28, 2005 10:10PM PDT
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(NT) (NT) >>NO<< Boot..ini tab
by denille May 28, 2005 10:18PM PDT
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Describe
by Cursorcowboy May 28, 2005 10:11PM PDT

what you see for buttons at the bottom of the General tab, if any please. Should be three.

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Description...
by denille May 28, 2005 10:17PM PDT

The only buttons available under the "General" tab are :

Launch System restore

Expand file

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ntldr
by Yew May 28, 2005 10:01PM PDT

Read up on XP's bootloader which should be able to do what you want. If not, you could probably install a different bootloader like GRUB or LILO.

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No click here tool. Try...
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator May 28, 2005 10:31PM PDT
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/info/bootini.shtml notes most of what you need to know. Here's the short version.


1. Remove the timeout or default so it doesn't timeout. I suggest you don't remove but up to to some absurd number.

Example:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

Becomes:
[boot loader]
timeout=9999
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

or delete 1 or 2 lines.

2. Make a copy of the default line in the system's Boot.ini file.

Example:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home" /fastdetect

Becomes:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Command prompt only" /SAFEBOOT:ALTERNATESHELL
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Safe Mode" /SAFEBOOT:MINIMAL
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Safe Mode w/networking" /SAFEBOOT:NETWORK
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home" /fastdetect

You can mix and mash as you want.

Bob
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Further reading "danielle"
by Cursorcowboy May 28, 2005 10:45PM PDT
Back to Windows Legacy OS forum

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