Windows XP Boot Problem - Boot Goes Right To Win Splash Screen

Windows XP boots right to the Windows splash screen without giving me
the chance to access anything with the F8 key or any other key. I
cannot get into Safe Mode, or change the boot order if I wanted to.

I already had it set to boot from a CD or DVD, so I'm okay there.

My Acronis Boot CD will boot fine, allowing me to access my save
Acronis images of my C: drive.

Anybody got an idea of how to fix this puzzlemenet?

On Mon, 24 May 2021 10:58:41 -0500, Brandon wrote:

Windows XP boots right to the Windows splash screen without giving me
the chance to access anything with the F8 key or any other key. I
cannot get into Safe Mode, or change the boot order if I wanted to.

I already had it set to boot from a CD or DVD, so I'm okay there.

My Acronis Boot CD will boot fine, allowing me to access my save
Acronis images of my C: drive.

Anybody got an idea of how to fix this puzzlemenet?

I just used a Kaspersky Rescue disk to boot my computer. It was made a
few years back when I had Kaspersky AV on the machine. It also booted
right to the Windows XP splash screen. I was hoping it would show me
the boom menu. Nope.

Brandon

Windows XP boots right to the Windows splash screen without
giving me the chance to access anything with the F8 key or any
other key.

Normally the apperance of that splash screen is the moment you should press
F8. You can also try to keep tapping F8 while the booting is going on (even
before the splash screen).

Anybody got an idea of how to fix this puzzlemenet?

Another possibility seems to be is to force SafeBoot by changing Boot.ini.
See the below link for how to do it.

https://www.askvg.com/how-to-boot-wi...s-boot-loader/

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

R.Wieser wrote:
Brandon

Windows XP boots right to the Windows splash screen without
giving me the chance to access anything with the F8 key or any
other key.

Normally the apperance of that splash screen is the moment you should press
F8. You can also try to keep tapping F8 while the booting is going on (even
before the splash screen).

Anybody got an idea of how to fix this puzzlemenet?

Another possibility seems to be is to force SafeBoot by changing Boot.ini.
See the below link for how to do it.

https://www.askvg.com/how-to-boot-wi...s-boot-loader/

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

Maybe a timeout of 0 seconds, in boot.ini, would do that ?

There is also the notion of chain-loading, but I don't know
if chain-loading includes bypassing the boot menu. That would
happen if you'd dabbled in some other OS perhaps, like a Linux.

cd /d C:\ # Navigate to the top of C:\ , the backslash is important
dir /ah boot.ini # lists "Hidden" items, such as the hidden boot.ini
notepad boot.ini # Edit boot.ini (you can still edit a hidden item)
# May need Administrator, if the filesystem is NTFS.

This is why they have "msconfig", to help deal with the
issues surrounding the file. I just use Notepad, being
careful not to make typing errors :-) Guess how you'll know
if you have entered incorrect Syntax ? It won't boot.

The whole thing is hoaky, and as long as you have emergency boot
materials of some kind, you can probably think of a way to fix it again.
This is not stuff you play with, if your computer room isn't full of
toys, like a second desktop to edit the disk with.

Usually when I make luncheon meat out of an OS by accident,
there's another OS waiting to take it's place. I must have
three or four Linux on the other disk right now, that are
"burned to the ground" through carelessness :-) They don't run
any more. Kinda a shame, because of the special config inside
(4Kx4K virtual desktops). Accidents happen.

Paul

On Mon, 24 May 2021 19:05:48 +0200, R.Wieser wrote:

Brandon

Windows XP boots right to the Windows splash screen without
giving me the chance to access anything with the F8 key or any
other key.

Normally the apperance of that splash screen is the moment you should press
F8. You can also try to keep tapping F8 while the booting is going on (even
before the splash screen).

Anybody got an idea of how to fix this puzzlemenet?

Another possibility seems to be is to force SafeBoot by changing Boot.ini.
See the below link for how to do it.

https://www.askvg.com/how-to-boot-wi...s-boot-loader/

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

I already have done all that key tapping stuff. It doesn't open the
boot menu anymore.

All that config deal does is bring up Safe Mode, which is fine if one
needs it. What I need is my boot menu back with all the other choices,
such as the computer booting from various devices and other choices.

I really don't want to fool around with stuff that I don't understand,
and that config menu is full of ripe opportunities for turning my comp
into a doorstop. )

Tnx for trying to help, but I'm just going to keep things the way the
are for now. If something goes south and I definitely need that boot
menu with its choices, I'll bring the box into the neighborhood
computer repair shop. Won't be the first time I had to do that. Matter
of fact, they're the ones who made the box quite a few years ago.

Tnx again.

On Mon, 24 May 2021 13:43:24 -0400, Paul wrote:

R.Wieser wrote:
Brandon

Windows XP boots right to the Windows splash screen without
giving me the chance to access anything with the F8 key or any
other key.

Normally the apperance of that splash screen is the moment you should press
F8. You can also try to keep tapping F8 while the booting is going on (even
before the splash screen).

Anybody got an idea of how to fix this puzzlemenet?

Another possibility seems to be is to force SafeBoot by changing Boot.ini.
See the below link for how to do it.

https://www.askvg.com/how-to-boot-wi...s-boot-loader/

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

Maybe a timeout of 0 seconds, in boot.ini, would do that ?

There is also the notion of chain-loading, but I don't know
if chain-loading includes bypassing the boot menu. That would
happen if you'd dabbled in some other OS perhaps, like a Linux.

cd /d C:\ # Navigate to the top of C:\ , the backslash is important
dir /ah boot.ini # lists "Hidden" items, such as the hidden boot.ini
notepad boot.ini # Edit boot.ini (you can still edit a hidden item)
# May need Administrator, if the filesystem is NTFS.

This is why they have "msconfig", to help deal with the
issues surrounding the file. I just use Notepad, being
careful not to make typing errors :-) Guess how you'll know
if you have entered incorrect Syntax ? It won't boot.

The whole thing is hoaky, and as long as you have emergency boot
materials of some kind, you can probably think of a way to fix it again.
This is not stuff you play with, if your computer room isn't full of
toys, like a second desktop to edit the disk with.

Usually when I make luncheon meat out of an OS by accident,
there's another OS waiting to take it's place. I must have
three or four Linux on the other disk right now, that are
"burned to the ground" through carelessness :-) They don't run
any more. Kinda a shame, because of the special config inside
(4Kx4K virtual desktops). Accidents happen.

Paul

I have made "luncheon meat" out of my box a couple of times. I don't
intend to do it again.

This present matter is baffling. As I said in my reply to Weiser, if
things get any more kinky than they already are, I'm taking the box in
to the shop that made it. I have a few other machines just in case of
such self inflicted screw ups that I'm occasionally capable of.

Brandon wrote:

Windows XP boots right to the Windows splash screen without giving me
the chance to access anything with the F8 key or any other key. I
cannot get into Safe Mode, or change the boot order if I wanted to.

I already had it set to boot from a CD or DVD, so I'm okay there.

My Acronis Boot CD will boot fine, allowing me to access my save
Acronis images of my C: drive.

Anybody got an idea of how to fix this puzzlemenet?

https://software.sil.org/balsa/modif...-boot-menu-xp/

Alternatively, run sysdm.cpl, click on the Advanced tab, and click the
Settings button under the Startup and Recovery section.

What is the duration for the "Time to display list of operating systems"
setting? Note that this setting is off: you do not get the time you
specified. The timeout will be 3 seconds less. If you set the timeout
to 10 seconds, you'll see the OS list for 7 seconds. No idea if you'll
see anything if the value is 3 seconds, or less.

On Mon, 24 May 2021 16:58:00 -0500, VanguardLH wrote:

Brandon wrote:

Windows XP boots right to the Windows splash screen without giving me
the chance to access anything with the F8 key or any other key. I
cannot get into Safe Mode, or change the boot order if I wanted to.

I already had it set to boot from a CD or DVD, so I'm okay there.

My Acronis Boot CD will boot fine, allowing me to access my save
Acronis images of my C: drive.

Anybody got an idea of how to fix this puzzlemenet?

https://software.sil.org/balsa/modif...-boot-menu-xp/

Alternatively, run sysdm.cpl, click on the Advanced tab, and click the
Settings button under the Startup and Recovery section.

What is the duration for the "Time to display list of operating systems"
setting? Note that this setting is off: you do not get the time you
specified. The timeout will be 3 seconds less. If you set the timeout
to 10 seconds, you'll see the OS list for 7 seconds. No idea if you'll
see anything if the value is 3 seconds, or less.

The settings under sysdm.cpl are for 30 seconds. I've never monkeyed
with them. I'm going to leave them as is.

So far,Windows itself is loading fine.

Brandon wrote:

The settings under sysdm.cpl are for 30 seconds. I've never monkeyed
with them. I'm going to leave them as is.

You can also msconfig.exe with its BOOT.INI tab to ensure the same 30
seconds is specified there for the timeout.

Is more than one OS listed in the list shown in the wizard mentioned
above? If not, no such list will be presented on boot since only one OS
is selectable.

"Access anything" is vague. Is it a list of OSes that is missing during
boot, or is it that you cannot force display of the boot menu using F8
(F5 on some setups)?

Have you enabled Hibernation mode? If your computer was put into
Hibernation on shutdown, it will naturally restore the same OS upon
boot. That's the point of hibernation: start up in the same state as
when shutdown. Disable hibernation, or make sure to do a full shutdown
and NOT into hibernation mode, and retest.

Oh, in addition, some pre-built computers want tisplay and advertisement
banner on boot. They want to ensure the user, whoever that is at the
time, gets to see that, gee, it's a Dell, Acer, HP, or whatever computer
maker created the computer. The splash screen will obliterate the POS
(Power On Start) screens, and could even last long enough to obliterate
the boot menu. Go into the BIOS and make sure the boot banner screen
option is disabled. Then, on boot, you should first see the POS screen
showing memory size, devices detected, BIOS version, and possibly other
information, including any other BIOS that loads afterward (e.g., SCSI),
and then followed by the boot menu (hit F5 or F8 immediately when the OS
starts loading).

On Mon, 24 May 2021 18:14:37 -0500, VanguardLH wrote:

Brandon wrote:

The settings under sysdm.cpl are for 30 seconds. I've never monkeyed
with them. I'm going to leave them as is.

You can also msconfig.exe with its BOOT.INI tab to ensure the same 30
seconds is specified there for the timeout.

Same 30" in the msconfig boot.ini

Is more than one OS listed in the list shown in the wizard mentioned
above? If not, no such list will be presented on boot since only one OS
is selectable.

Only Win XP. I've enuf problems with one OS. I don't more of them.

"Access anything" is vague. Is it a list of OSes that is missing during
boot, or is it that you cannot force display of the boot menu using F8
(F5 on some setups)?

I have no boot choices at all showing at boot. It goes right to
Windows. No chance to use any F8 key or any other.

It does take about a full minute to boot into Windows. That's a long
wait.

Have you enabled Hibernation mode? If your computer was put into
Hibernation on shutdown, it will naturally restore the same OS upon
boot. That's the point of hibernation: start up in the same state as
when shutdown. Disable hibernation, or make sure to do a full shutdown
and NOT into hibernation mode, and retest.

Never used Hibernation. Took a look at Power stuff - Hibernation
Unchecked.

Oh, in addition, some pre-built computers want tisplay and advertisement
banner on boot. They want to ensure the user, whoever that is at the
time, gets to see that, gee, it's a Dell, Acer, HP, or whatever computer
maker created the computer. The splash screen will obliterate the POS
(Power On Start) screens, and could even last long enough to obliterate
the boot menu. Go into the BIOS and make sure the boot banner screen
option is disabled. Then, on boot, you should first see the POS screen
showing memory size, devices detected, BIOS version, and possibly other
information, including any other BIOS that loads afterward (e.g., SCSI),
and then followed by the boot menu (hit F5 or F8 immediately when the OS
starts loading).

This comp was built in a shop nearby about 8 or 9 years ago. It never
had all that ad crap placed on it. It's one of the reasons I have my
boxes made by the local shop. I dictate what goes on them.

I have True Image incremental backups of the C: going back to Dec. of
'20. I wondering if I loaded one far enough back before this started
if that older image made before all this might straighten things out.

Does a True Image copy of the C: partition also contain the old boot
menu? It would mean installing a bunch of the newer programs all over
again.

Brandon wrote:

Does a True Image copy of the C: partition also contain the old boot
menu? It would mean installing a bunch of the newer programs all over
again.

Make an image backup now. If going back to an older image doesn't work,
you can restore the image you created now. I don't know if your image
backups cover just the OS drive (boot sector + OS partition), just the
OS partition, or all drives and all their partitions. Image backups can
also exclude some destinations, like OneDrive, Google Drive, temp
folders, and so on. Been too long since I used Acronis True Image
although I used it for several years. I moved to Macrium Reflect.

An image backup of C: should include the boot sector where is the boot
program (that then loads the OS).

However, restoring a past image where the problem doesn't exist will not
prevent causing the same problem again with whatever programs or tweaks
you performed in the interim. If the old image restore works, you have
to be diligent on what you tweak or install thereafter to avoid the same
problem.

On Tue, 25 May 2021 00:15:03 -0500, VanguardLH wrote:

Brandon wrote:

Does a True Image copy of the C: partition also contain the old boot
menu? It would mean installing a bunch of the newer programs all over
again.

Make an image backup now. If going back to an older image doesn't work,
you can restore the image you created now.

That's what I had planned on doing. Just out of curiosity more than
anything else.

I don't know if your image
backups cover just the OS drive (boot sector + OS partition), just the
OS partition, or all drives and all their partitions. Image backups can
also exclude some destinations, like OneDrive, Google Drive, temp
folders, and so on. Been too long since I used Acronis True Image
although I used it for several years. I moved to Macrium Reflect.
An image backup of C: should include the boot sector where is the boot
program (that then loads the OS).

We'll find out for sure.

However, restoring a past image where the problem doesn't exist will not
prevent causing the same problem again with whatever programs or tweaks
you performed in the interim. If the old image restore works, you have
to be diligent on what you tweak or install thereafter to avoid the same
problem.

I'm dang sure that what caused it was my screwing around
installing/uninstalling a bunch of 'security' programs for a few days.
(You gotta have something to pass the time with while sundowning at
87.)

I'll spend 2-3 hours imaging what's here today, then spend the same
amount time loading up an image from far enough in the past that will
tell us something - hopefully.

I'll let you know either later today or tomorrow what happened.

On Tue, 25 May 2021 07:54:33 -0500, Brandon wrote:

On Tue, 25 May 2021 00:15:03 -0500, VanguardLH wrote:

Brandon wrote:

Does a True Image copy of the C: partition also contain the old boot
menu? It would mean installing a bunch of the newer programs all over
again.

Make an image backup now. If going back to an older image doesn't work,
you can restore the image you created now.

That's what I had planned on doing. Just out of curiosity more than
anything else.

I don't know if your image
backups cover just the OS drive (boot sector + OS partition), just the
OS partition, or all drives and all their partitions. Image backups can
also exclude some destinations, like OneDrive, Google Drive, temp
folders, and so on. Been too long since I used Acronis True Image
although I used it for several years. I moved to Macrium Reflect.
An image backup of C: should include the boot sector where is the boot
program (that then loads the OS).

We'll find out for sure.

However, restoring a past image where the problem doesn't exist will not
prevent causing the same problem again with whatever programs or tweaks
you performed in the interim. If the old image restore works, you have
to be diligent on what you tweak or install thereafter to avoid the same
problem.

I'm dang sure that what caused it was my screwing around
installing/uninstalling a bunch of 'security' programs for a few days.
(You gotta have something to pass the time with while sundowning at
87.)

I'll spend 2-3 hours imaging what's here today, then spend the same
amount time loading up an image from far enough in the past that will
tell us something - hopefully.

I'll let you know either later today or tomorrow what happened.

Well, I recalled an Acronis C: image from the beginning week in March.
The image from then also did not boot through any menu choices but
went right to the Windows splash screen.

I know that back then I wasn't screwing around with loading any
"security" proggies. So, it's either that the problem happened before
then, or Acronis does not include the boot stuff in the saved image of
the C:

And there is this - I'm not sure at all when this boot stuff went
missing. That's because when I turn on the box in the morning, I go
right into the kitchen and start brewing my coffee, so I don't see the
start up stuff happening. When I do come back to the comp with my
coffee, Windows is already sitting there loaded and waiting.

Now what this means is that I have no idea as to when this problem
actually began. I could roll back my True Image to an image made in
December of '20*, but why? Even if the boot menu did appear then, I'd
have no more idea of why it screwed up than I have now. So, to heck
with it.

*(Why I have images sitting around that were made in December of 2020,
I have no idea. But i can assure you, they're going to be gone as
soon as I'm finished with this nonsense - which is now.)

Thanks everyone for having allowed me to waste your time. )

Brandon wrote:

*(Why I have images sitting around that were made in December of 2020,
I have no idea.

Verifying some issues, do require going back two years.

But that's the furthest I've gone back, and I only
stayed there for ten minutes, before coming back to the present.

Paul

On Tue, 25 May 2021 21:24:08 -0400, Paul wrote:

Brandon wrote:

*(Why I have images sitting around that were made in December of 2020,
I have no idea.

Verifying some issues, do require going back two years.

But that's the furthest I've gone back, and I only
stayed there for ten minutes, before coming back to the present.

Paul

Well, I don't have 'em there to "verify" issues. Not being a tech nor
a technically inclined hobbyist, I wouldn't know an issue unless it
was labled "Issue" - and even then I wouldn't know what in the bleep
to do about it unless it had a Menu of Choices. Yeah, I know - sad.
(