Strange Boot Screen

Discussion in 'Software' started by Sassafras, May 22, 2012.

  1. Sassafras

    Sassafras Private E-2

    I brought this up over in malware, thinking it might have something to do with recent virus issues, but was told it might have something to do with bios. (Whatever that is.)

    Anyway, a couple days ago, after trying to get rid of a virus, a new boot screen began popping up whenever I turn on my computer. The first screen that comes up (and never did before) goes away too quickly for me to read it. There are strings of letters and numbers and I think I saw something like 3rd master and 3rd slave or some such. It goes quickly.

    The next screen is black with a blue square (also a new screen for me) and in that square it says this:

    "Please select boot device
    PM-ST3160023AS
    3M-_NEC DVD+RW ND-2100AD
    3S-ASUS CD-S480/AH"

    And also gives me the option to hit "F4 to boot using defaults".

    I usually hit F4, but have selected the first boot device a couple times. (Assuming the second is the CD burner and the third is the CD-rom.) Both options bring me to the usual blue welcome screen and then my desktop.

    Is this a bad thing? And how can it be fixed so that it doesn't happen anymore?
     
    Sassafras, May 22, 2012
    #1
  2. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    Can you get into windows or are you always being presented with the boot menu no matter what you choose?

    If you can boot into windows: Go to start then run and type this in
    Code:
    notepad c:\boot.ini
    Paste what you see in your next post. It seems like your computer is set up as if a certain key is pressed to always present you with the boot menu.
     
    plodr, May 22, 2012
    #2
  3. Sassafras

    Sassafras Private E-2

    [boot loader]
    timeout=3
    default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
    [operating systems]
    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
    C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
     
    Sassafras, May 22, 2012
    #3
  4. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    This line
    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut

    change into
    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect
    by removing what I've bolded above

    Completely remove this line
    C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons

    For reference, this is what a boot.ini looks like
    Code:
    [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 have (2) instead of (1) in partition because of the hidden recovery partition. This is normal for your computer.
     
    plodr, May 23, 2012
    #4
  5. Sassafras

    Sassafras Private E-2

    How do I change it?
     
    Sassafras, May 23, 2012
    #5
  6. Sassafras

    Sassafras Private E-2

    Never mind. Figured it out. :) Thanks for your help!
     
    Sassafras, May 23, 2012
    #6

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