ABXZone Computer  Forums



Welcome to the ABXZone Computer Forums forums.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.
Why not Register and remove some of the ads from The ABXZone

 
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-24-2008, 11:52 AM   #1
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 5
winxp-insert boot disk and press any key

this started a couple of weeks ago. on startup, i get the message "insert boot disk and press any key." repeated re-boot will sometimes get success without having to F4 or F8. i have re-installed winxp and it will work fine and reboot on re-start but error on a cold start. sometimes it will ask where to boot from, winxp or windows. i have ran my norton 360 and it found nothing. any help on where to look would be greatly appreciated.
(Offline)   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2008, 11:58 AM   #2
I'll race the truck!
 
zman88's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: NH
Posts: 490
Re: winxp-insert boot disk and press any key

Did this problem occur before or after you installed 360 ? JK Well,maybe not.

Sounds like a file or files are corrupt or missing. Have you tried running scan disc?
__________________
Turn Left,Go Fast

I spend most of my money on wild women,booze and computers....... The rest I just waste!
(Offline)   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2008, 12:04 PM   #3
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 5
Re: winxp-insert boot disk and press any key

yes ,ran scan disk. no, it happened long after install of n360. nothing new done when problem started. i was also getting mess. ,windows root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe, but that stopped after winxp re-install
(Offline)   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2008, 12:14 PM   #4
I'll race the truck!
 
zman88's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: NH
Posts: 490
Re: winxp-insert boot disk and press any key

Maybe the HD is failing? If you know what HD it is you may be able to get a utility from the mfg's website. Also have you tried running memtest ?

You might also want to try a different AV and spyware program like AVG and spybot.
__________________
Turn Left,Go Fast

I spend most of my money on wild women,booze and computers....... The rest I just waste!
(Offline)   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2008, 12:18 PM   #5
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 5
Re: winxp-insert boot disk and press any key

i also use ad-aware. thankx, i'll try western digital website
(Offline)   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2008, 12:24 PM   #6
I'll race the truck!
 
zman88's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: NH
Posts: 490
Re: winxp-insert boot disk and press any key

You should run Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool also. just to eliminate that as a problem.

AVG is a free virus scanner
__________________
Turn Left,Go Fast

I spend most of my money on wild women,booze and computers....... The rest I just waste!
(Offline)   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2008, 02:44 PM   #7
You can run.....
 
3 of 7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,642
Re: winxp-insert boot disk and press any key

A hard drive cable will do that, try a new one.. I've had a few sata ones go bad lately... I'm not impressed with the design at all..
__________________
(Offline)   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2008, 02:51 PM   #8
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 5
Re: winxp-insert boot disk and press any key

thanks, i hope, but that would be too easy! i have extras i can try.
(Offline)   Reply With Quote
Old 04-24-2008, 10:12 PM   #9
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 5
Re: winxp-insert boot disk and press any key

ok, i guess i'm a pig. really dusty inside. here's what it's doing now. screen says "please select operating system to start" "windows xp media edition" or "windows." if win xp media ed. is chosen, it boots right up. if windows is chosen, eror message "windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt" <windows root>\system 32\hal.dll
is there a way to set windows xp media edition as the default or should i re-install the missing or corrupt file? i am just trying to shorten the startup process. the current default is windows.
(Offline)   Reply With Quote
Old 04-25-2008, 11:18 AM   #10
Registered User
 
PGIV's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: NY
Posts: 246
Re: winxp-insert boot disk and press any key

Just go the the root of C and open your boot.ini file. First right click on it and uncheck the Read Only box. With the boot.ini open in notepad, just highlight and delete the line referring to the OS you don't want. Save your changes, put the Read Only attribute back on and you should be good to go.
__________________
ASUS P5KC || Corsair PC3-10664 2GB (2x1024) @ 1333MHz FSB || Intel C2D E6850 || 2X WD 150 GB Raptor || Enermax Infiniti 720W PSU || eVGA GeForce 8800 Ultra KO, 768 MB, 175.16 Driver || Lite-On LH-20A1S CD/DVD-RW Drive || Sony DDU1615, 16/48 DVD-ROM Drive || ProCase Full Tower || Dell 2707WFP 27" Monitor @ 1920x1200 || Cambridge SoundWorks 'MicroWorks' Speakers || Windows XP Pro/32 bit/SP3
(Offline)   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.0.1
vBulletin Skin developed by: vBStyles.com