started windows set up - how to stop?

  • Thread starter Thread starter twobirds
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twobirds

Someone called me with a problem. They inserted their windows XP Pro CD due
to an error about a corrupt file that needed to be replaced. They didn't
understnd what they were supposed to do - and the autoplay ran. They chose
to install windows and the machine rebooted into windows set up. They
didn't understand the windows set up, so they powered off the machine. They
really had no intention of re-installing windows and being in windows set up
was entirely accidental.

They can reach their origional install by selecting to boot to windows xp
rather than to set up. My question is this: Is there any way to remove the
set up so they don't have to choose to boot to windows rather than set up
every time their machine starts?
 
Yes, there is a way to get rid of the attempted setup and set the computer
to boot to the original installation.

Quick Summary:
Change the c:\boot.ini file to select the normal operating system line as
the default startup option then delete the setup entry and directory.

Detailed Instructions:
1) Set your Windows Explorer to view hidden files including system files:
Tool, Folder Options, View, clear the check marks from "Hide
protected operatin system files" and "Hide extensions for known file
types", and
select the radio button for "Show hidden files and folders". Click
apply, then Apply to All Folders.
2) Go to C:\
3) Right-click on boot.ini and select Properties. Clear the read-only
checkbox and click OK.
4) Double-click on boot.ini to open it in Notepad.
5) Change the "Default" line to match the first line under the "[Operating
Systems]" heading. I.E:
"Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS.
Note: the "="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect" portion
on this line does not need to be included in the Default line. Only up to
and including the "\WINDOWS" part.
6) Delete the line under the "[Operating Systems]" heading that reads
C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows XP Professional Setup".
7) Close the file and save your changes.
8) Locate the $WIN_NT$.~BT directory on the root of C: drive and delete
the entire folder.
9) Locate the $LDR$ file on the root of C: drive and delete it.
9) Reboot the system.

It should now start normally without prompting you with options for
starting.

Mark Wilson [MS]
"This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights."
--------------------
| NNTP-Posting-Date: Tue, 05 Oct 2004 03:24:37 -0500
| From: "twobirds" <[email protected]>
| Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.setup_deployment
| Subject: started windows set up - how to stop?
| Date: Tue, 5 Oct 2004 02:24:43 -0600
|
| Someone called me with a problem. They inserted their windows XP Pro CD
due
| to an error about a corrupt file that needed to be replaced. They didn't
| understnd what they were supposed to do - and the autoplay ran. They
chose
| to install windows and the machine rebooted into windows set up. They
| didn't understand the windows set up, so they powered off the machine.
They
| really had no intention of re-installing windows and being in windows set
up
| was entirely accidental.
|
| They can reach their origional install by selecting to boot to windows xp
| rather than to set up. My question is this: Is there any way to remove
the
| set up so they don't have to choose to boot to windows rather than set up
| every time their machine starts?
|
|
|
 
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