30 Second screen before Windows startup

Tsumaite · 12-13-2007, 07:58 PM

I have a Windows XP and I've had this problem before but I've completely forgotten how to skip it. I've washed my computer and I get this 30 second countdown to 'Select operating system'. So it gives me two operating systems which are identical (Windows XP Home Edition). It also says to press 'ENTER' to choose which one I want. Can anyone tell me how to set the countdown to '0' so that I can skip this?

P.S. It's a black screen with white text.

Edit: Sorry! I just noticed it's in the wrong topic!

Jlp1928 · 12-14-2007, 09:06 AM

Hi Tsu,

I've never had two XPs but have had an XP and a 98se. I edited the BOOT.INI file in the root directory of the boot drive to remove the Win98. Remove one of them and see what happens. Save a copy of the file first so you can go back to it if things go wrong. I usually just make a copy and alter the file name. To get back just dump the bad one and change the file name back. It's a System and Hidden file so you will have to use DOS and ATTRIB. Someone may have an easier way to do this. (Guys?)

Good Luck Jim

elf · 01-08-2008, 10:05 PM

Right click your "My Computer" and go to Properties > in the window that loads click the "Advanced" tab. On that window click the "Startup and Recovery" button. In the window that loads you will want to set the "Time to display list of operating systems.

12-13-2007, 07:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tsumaite Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1 OS: Windows XP	30 Second screen before Windows startup I have a Windows XP and I've had this problem before but I've completely forgotten how to skip it. I've washed my computer and I get this 30 second countdown to 'Select operating system'. So it gives me two operating systems which are identical (Windows XP Home Edition). It also says to press 'ENTER' to choose which one I want. Can anyone tell me how to set the countdown to '0' so that I can skip this? P.S. It's a black screen with white text. Edit: Sorry! I just noticed it's in the wrong topic! Last edited by Tsumaite; 12-13-2007 at 08:07 PM.

12-14-2007, 09:06 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jlp1928 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 440 OS: Win98, XP, 2000	Re: 30 Second screen before Windows startup Hi Tsu, I've never had two XPs but have had an XP and a 98se. I edited the BOOT.INI file in the root directory of the boot drive to remove the Win98. Remove one of them and see what happens. Save a copy of the file first so you can go back to it if things go wrong. I usually just make a copy and alter the file name. To get back just dump the bad one and change the file name back. It's a System and Hidden file so you will have to use DOS and ATTRIB. Someone may have an easier way to do this. (Guys?) Good Luck Jim

01-08-2008, 10:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
elf Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Knoxville, TN or Austin, TX depending Posts: 7,038 OS: WinXP Pro SP3 and Windows 7 My System	Re: 30 Second screen before Windows startup Right click your "My Computer" and go to Properties > in the window that loads click the "Advanced" tab. On that window click the "Startup and Recovery" button. In the window that loads you will want to set the "Time to display list of operating systems. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! I do not subscribe to threads, so if I stop replying, PM me with a link to your thread so I can find it again.