sequence of starting up XP?

[Sharon]

I have a new computer WINXP Home HP Pavillion
My question is when I turn it on (power button) it starts up with a black
screen and some words. I have to either wait for it to count down or choose
Windows XP Home
Then it goes to the Windows splash screen (loading windows)
Then it goes to the desktop where I would choose my User icon.
Is this a normal sequence of events?
My sons WinXp Home goes straight to the splash screen.
Then to the User icons.
Thanks in advance

 

[David Candy]

It is if you have more than one startup option and more than one account.

 

[Sharon]

Hi
What do you mean by this could you explain it to me please and then I can
respond further.
Thanks
I am a newbie.

"David Candy" <.> wrote in message
It is if you have more than one startup option and more than one account.

 

[Guest]

It is right. All it enables you to do is with the text you can select a kind
of emergency start-up OS. This enables you to say that if your computer won't
boot up properly you can select another option and try to fix the problem
like that. It is basically a failsafe.

Hope that explains it.

03swalker

 

[Sharon]

I forgot to mention when I bought the computer, it did not start up this
way. I was transferring all my documents and installing all my old programs.
When I went to install EZ CD Creator it crashed. I could not get it to boot
up anymore. It did not come with any cd's. so I had to take it back to the
store. The tech guy said he had to reformat back to factory settings. When
I got it back home and turned it on it did not go thru the same Windows
setup that it did the first time I had it. do you think that the tech guy
changed something? And what should I do?
Thanks for all your help.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Check All Boot Paths

Start | Run | Type: msconfig | OK |
Boot.ini tab | Check All Boot Paths button |
A dialog box will open detailing the location of any invalid operating
system locations | Confirm you want to remove the entry and reboot

[[Check All Boot Paths - This button will check the boot paths for all
operating systems listed in the BOOT.INI to ensure they point to a valid
operating system. ]]

Msconfig image
http://www.winnetmag.com/Files/16/20784/msconfig.gif

If there is only one you will get:
It appears that all BOOT.INI lines for Microsoft operating systems are OK.

If you still get the Boot Menu, the black screen with the countdown...
Start | Run | Type: msconfig | OK |
General tab | Make sure Normal Startup is selected | If it wasn't, click
Apply | Click OK | Click YES to Reboot? | Reboot

If you still get the Boot Menu, see these...

I have two installations of XP on the same partition
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html

Scroll down to and expand...
20. I have two installations of XP on the same partition.......


[[You reinstalled Windows XP on your computer thinking it would overwrite
the existing version of Windows XP and now there are two copies when you
boot up. Crap! What to do now? Not to worry, here's the solution.]]
http://www.cyberwalker.net/faqs/reinstall-reformat-winxp/two-copies-xp.html

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Al Romanosky]

Sharon - On the test screen what other option are you given besides Windows
XP Home? I'll try to explain what you are experiencing - for example you
can have XP Home and XP Pro installed on the computer - if so then when the
computer boots you are offered the option of "choosing" which XP you want to
start - the last "text" line counts down in seconds the time to make a
choice - no choice selected -then boot goes to the default XP - which is
usually the first listed. Are there two options listed and are both XP
Home?
BTW - Always give all the facts when posting - especially if the computer
has been serviced.

 

[Al Romanosky]

Sharon - continuing with my post - occasionally when an operating system
(XP) is reinstalled it may be installed in another partition, or folder,
than the original installation - when this happens on boot you may get the
option to chose the OS but both options will be identical e.g. two XP Home.

 

[Sharon]

HP Pavillion A1030N

My choices on the screen are
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition and
Microsoft Windows Recovery Console

 

[Al Romanosky]

What you have is a "standard" optional boot scenario to provide advanced
repair techniques via the "Recovery console". The console is used as a next
to last resort (last is reinstallation of XP) in trying to "cure" a sick
machine. It provides a command line (like old DOS) basis for run ing
various commands - it is not recommended for use by "lay people" but rather
knowledgeable personnel. I have my wife's computer set up the same way.
The time delay is adjustable - I have it set for three seconds - think the
default is 20 seconds. Te recovery console can be removed or a file
(boot.ini) modified so that the option does not appear - in any case it is
not "damaging" to your computer.

 

[Al Romanosky]

Sharon -more stuff. Recovery console can be run from the XP CD or installed
and run from the hard drive. It is not installed by default. I would
assume that the Tech who worked on the computer used the recovery console to
correct any problems - He/she should have explained the dual boot option to
you.

 

[David Candy]

If there is only one option it doesn't ask you which of the one option you want. You have more than one thing to choose at those screens.