Re: Sir, Madam, Previously I ran a demo version of Windows 2000 on my self built machine, a version which could however, not be updated. The single hard disk already had three partitions, one for the OS, one for DATA and one for DOWNLOADS. Then the OS would not start, saying that HALL.DLL was missing and had to be re-installed. I did not manage to do this. This was reason to buy and hoped to install an OEM Windows XP Home Ed.UK, after I created and set active a new partition with PartitionMagic 8.0. Things did not go smoothly because there was a bad sector in the partition I wanted to create, so I decided to format the old Windows 2000 partition and hope for the best. Well I succeeded and the machine works OK, but every time I boot I get the famous question: “Please select the operating system to start” and I can choose between Default and Default. Right clicking on MY COMPUTER, PROPERTIES, ADVANCED and clicking on SETTING in the STARTUP and RECOVERY section, I find in editing the boot only: [boot loader] timeout=30 default=C:\ [operating systems] On my laptop there is a whole lot of data under [operating systems] I deleted the √ in the box: Time to display list of operating systems and left the one in the box: Time to display recovery options. But the question “Please select the operating system to start” keeps coming and it is bothersome because the cursor goes to the second default, which is not the right one, so if you forget to move the cursor it gives the error: I/O Error accessing boot sector file Multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\BOOTSECTOR.DOS How can I correct settings and get rid of the awkward question? Willem1933

http://computing.net/windows2000/wwwboard/forum/63204.html This should help get rid of the bug line in the boot.ini file.Good luck.

Alas, the system of XP is different. When I click on SYSTEM, ADVANCED in control panel and then on SETTINGS in the STARTUP AND RECOVERY part the DEFAULT OPERATING SYSTEM line in SYSTEM STARTUP is empty. When I open the EDIT in the STARTUP OPTIONS to edit the options manually I get the following: [boot loader] timeout=30 default=C:\ [operating systems] As I said above: I deleted the √ in the box: Time to display list of operating systems and left the one in the box: Time to display recovery options, but the message keeps on coming. I suspect that I have to add to the boot ini file. But what ? Please look again. Thanks Willem1933

if you only have Xp installed on the primary active partition the boot.ini file should look like [boot loader] timeout=30 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" /fastdetect you can have other options after /fastdetect but I do not know what. Normal you would not have "default=C:\" unless there was a non NT (win98,me) OS to boot from or a error "bootsector.dos" you state that you use PM 8.0 to change partitions so better have a look with Disk Management to see just what partitions are now on the hdd and be sure XP was infact install onto the primary active partition befor changeing the boot.ini file.

Dear Mr. Topfarmer, With the buttocks tight I inserted the text as suggested. Problem solved. Thanks willem1933