black screen on startup that says "select Microsoft XP Home Editio

[Guest]

I just purchased and installed Windows XP Home Edition with SP2 included on
my son’s computer, a Compaq Presario 4000NX. It was a smooth installation
with no problems. However, when I turn the computer on it boots up to a
black screen that says this (or very close to this remark):
Please select Microsoft XP Home Edition
Please select Microsoft XP Home Edition

Use up and down arrows to move to highlight choice and then hit enter

Underneath that, a comment appears that says the highlighted selection will
automatically be started in 30 seconds

At the bottom of the screen it says: For troubleshooting and advanced
startup options for Windows, press F8

I would very much appreciate preventing this screen to appear, going
directly to the familiar “Welcome†screen. I checked the knowledge base and
couldn’t find any references to this. I saw one comment that "appeared" to
apply to this on the newsgroup and it was because there are now so many
different versions. I would still like for it to just load Windows without
any input from me.

His computer ONLY has the new copy of Windows XP, just installed on a clean,
formatted hard drive
It is an Intel Celeron 2.40 GHz/400 MHz with 1 Gig PC2100 Ram, 2- 512 MB
chips (DDR-SDRAM)
128 MB Cache Ram

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

You have the dual boot menu. The first question to ask is, do you have two
copies of xp home installed on your machine? If not you shouldn't be getting
the dual boot menu.
However, to prevent the menu appearing go to Control panel and click on the
System icon. In System properties click on the Advanced tab. On the advanced
tab you will see a section marked 'Startup and Recovery' click the 'settings
button'. You will now be taken to the Startup and Recovery properties
window. Now look at the 'system startup section' Underneath the 'default
operating system' menu you will see an option marked 'time to display list
of operating systems' Click on the box on the left of this option to remove
the 'tick' Now click the OK button. In the next window press Apply followed
by OK. When you next reboot your pc it should boot straight into windows xp
home and the menu will not appear.

 

[Guest]

Right click on my computer and select properties, then go to the advanced
tab. Near the bottom where it says Startup and Recovery click on the settings
button, uncheck the boxes in Time to display list of operating systems and
time to display recovery options. Should take care of that.

 

[Guest]

Looks like you have not installed windows properly and you have installed the
service pack without formatting existing windows.
I am sorry sir, but you have to install widows again, this time do a fresh
installation and when prompted format you hard disk and install again.
(Format on NTFS)

 

[Woody]

Don't do as this post suggests. Follow Mr. Barnett's advice above.

Woody