problems at start up

For a month or so, when I start up my computer I get the DELL screen, then it goes to a new black screen with the writing: (something like this)...

Please locate the operation system to start
Microsoft Windows Recovery Console
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Set Up

Use the up and down key to move highlight or choose
Please enter to choose
Seconds until highlighted will be restarted automatically: 0

If I choose Windows XP professional, it starts up normally and everything is great. If I don't choose Windows XP professional it goes to another screen...all black with the following text in top corner:

NTLDR is compressed
Press Cntrl, Alt, Delete to restart

I'm sure there is an easy way to get it to load normally, I just don't know enough and don't want to risk stuffing it up.

thanks

Gail

 

1 Right click on My Computer then select Properties
2 Click on Advanced tab
3 Click on the Settings button in the Start-up and Recovery window (near the bottom)
4 Click on the Edit button
You should have something like:
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
If you have something else as well that looks like it's related to setting up XP Pro, delete it (save a copy somewhere else first, just in case). Or if you want to be sure you're doing the right thing, make a copy of what's in that file and post it..

 

This is what is in the Edit on Settings in the Startup & Recovery...almost the same as you quoted.

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=3
Default=C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT
[Operating Systems]
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows XP Professional Setup"

 

This is the bit we're looking for:

Delete that from the file, save the file and reboot. The problem should be gone.

 

High Kestrel.
Do you know if there's a way of leaving it there but without it being accessed, such as by putting an apostrophe in front of it to make it appear as a comment, as you do in writing macros?

 

OK... although she seems to be saying that she has to select the XP Pro option in order to boot.Otherwise it goes to another screen and she has to press CTRL+Alt+Del.
Maybe it's just a matter of altering the Default that selects the Startup option.
In fact, now I look more closely, I can see that that's what it is. The default is the setup option, not the XP Pro option.

Gail, go back to:
1 Right click on My Computer then select Properties
2 Click on Advanced tab
3 Click on the Settings button in the Start-up and Recovery window (near the bottom)
4 Click on the Edit button

Replace:

Default=C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT

with (copy and paste):

Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

Save and reboot.
The same screen should come up on boot, but it should then boot normally (after a pause of 3 seconds). It will do that each time from now on, and keeps that other option there in case you need it, as Kestrel suggested.

BTW, I expect you will need an account with admin privileges to do this.

 

Ahhhh! Much better. Thanks very much. I really appreciate your help.

Gail

 

A pleasure to be of service. Glad it's sorted.

 

Accidental post. Sorry. Pease ignore.