XP Home Edition startup

[Guest]

I've just switched from Windows 98 Firest Edition to XP Home Edition. I
don't see a Scan Disc on XP. Does this mean that XP automatically fixes
errors on the hard drive?

Also, is there a way of disabling XP from looking at my A drive during the
booting up process? I got an error message when booting up, probably because
it looked at A drive to startup with. I did see the method recommended by
XP. This leaves me typing MSCONFIG at Startup and Run. I then have to find,
from a long list of files, "A" drive in System.Ini, Win.Ini, Services, or
from Startup. But which one is the floppy disc? I couldn't see that one at
all in the long list of files, probably because I don't know what it's called.

Thanks.

 

[DL]

How did you switch? upgrade or clean installation?
If you mean the Floppy is accessed on boot up this is a default setting of
your bios.
Usually bios boot order is, Floppy,CD,HD or similar.
But then what *exactly* is the err msg.

Win2k/xp uses chkdisk, and if errors are found whilst they may be fixable,
you should then run the HD manu disk diagnostics tool.

 

[Guest]

It was a clean installation. I can't recall the error message, but it meant
that I had to press the restart (red) button to get the PC to book up again.
In the past, with 98 First Edition, I later ran scan disk to make sure that
this proceedure didn't harm the C drive. I assume, with XP, that the
software will detect and repair any damage caused by this "unusual" bootup?

On the other points. Can you tell me how to access BIO, and what I then do
(as a beginner)?

That HD manu disk diagnostics tool. I did run a diagnostics tool from XP,
right clicking on C drive. But when I ran it, for repairs, it seemed to go

 

[DL]

HD manu diagnostics tool is the free utility available on the hard disk
manufacturers web site.
In Help see 'chkdsk'

As a beginner I would'nt reccommend meddling with the bios, unless at the
very least you have your motherboard manual to refer to.
Usually there is a bios option to set it to defaults.
How you access the bios depend on your PC/bios often 'Del' key as soon as PC
starts booting

But accessing floppy on boot is a default setting if you are getting an err
msg, this is caused by something else
and you need to post the *exact* err msg

Scandisk usually fixed file errors, winxp, assuming you set the file sys to
ntfs is far more robust then win98 fat.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I've just switched from Windows 98 Firest Edition to XP Home Edition.
I don't see a Scan Disc on XP. Does this mean that XP automatically
fixes errors on the hard drive?

No, it means that the name of the similar program in XP is CHKDSK, as it is
in all other members of teh Windows NT family and in older versions of DOS.

Also, is there a way of disabling XP from looking at my A drive
during the booting up process?

Go into the BIOS setup program and change the boot order so that A: is last.