Always installs hardware during hard boot

[Guest]

I just installed XP Home starting with a blank hard drive. Everything went
well, but for one thing: If I turn the computer off and let it sit for a few
seconds and then start it up again, it goes through the motions of installing
the hardware (doesn't specify which) and then gives me a message that I need
to restart in order for the new hardware to be functional. Once it restarts
(soft boot) it is fine. But if I turn it off again for a few seconds and
then start it up again, it does it again. anyone know how to solve this? It
never used to do this. The whole reason I did this was because we had a
power surge or brown-out during a storm and after that, my computer would
freeze during start-up, so I scrubbed the whole thing and reinstalled XP.
Thanks.

 

[Jetro]

Open a case, reset the BIOS and ensure Boot sector protection is disabled.
Reset all the connectors, RAM and cards.

 

[Guest]

Okay, refresh my memory cuz it's been a while since I built this thing.
There's a jumper that needs to be removed or put in a different position to
reset the BIOS, right? And I need to disconnect everything before I do this?
And then go into BIOS and reconfigure everything to the correct settings?
Thanks for your help.

 

[Jetro]

You don't need any refresh - you remember everything. Find and read a
motherboard manual, disconnect just power cable from power supply, and reset
the BIOS.