A Few clean install issues...

Ok, I just built myself a new system (specs shouldn't matter, but if it does, I'll type it by request), and there are a few things that are bugging me.

I installed Windows XP Pro like normal, and it all works fine, except for one thing. When I boot, the BIOS and normal loading screens flash like they always do. After the normal screens, it sends me to the black screen with the OS choices on it (like when you try to start in Safe Mode) and it has 2 options: Windows XP Pro, and Windows XP Home. Now, this isn't a problem, as everything still functions. It is just a minor annoyance, that I am not sure why it is happening.

Also, I installed a DVD-R/W drive (Lite-On SHM-160P6S), and again, it reads fine. When I open My Computer, it shows up as a DVD-R/W drive like it should. The problem is that when I put in a DVD-R, it only shows the blank disc as a CD-R.

Any help with either problem is mroe than welcome. Thanks!

That's odd. Did any of the hard drives currently installed in your system ever have XP Home on them?

My boot HD had Home installed on it, but I reformatted twice before I installed Pro... I haven't tried to boot Home version yet for fear that it will get stuck there xD

I wasn't sure if there was some way to set a BIOS default OS choice or not

<---- BIOS /\/()()|3

you'll need to remove the option to boot from XP home in the boot.ini file, I dont have dual boot option, so I cant look to see. But i'm sure someone can give you the part to remove. Something has just got a bit messed up when you reformatted. It's really easy to correct m8.

EDIT - regarding you Lite-on, I had the same problem, removing the hardware from the device manager in system properties corrects it short term, but for me it kept returning. The solution is to update the drives firmware(downloading and update, and flashing the hardware) It didn't work for me so I got a new drive.

Yeah, you can google how to edit the boot.ini. It's pretty easy. The only reason I was asking is that if the XP setup app sees an existing bootable partition it will ask you if you want it to set up a dual-boot. I could see someone selecting that option without realising/paying attention that they were doing it.

Well, I updated the firmware, and nothing has changed. I'm thinking it might be a mislabeled spindle or something... I'll try a different brand disc eventually

Now I am having soem issues with the USB ports not loading, and since my keyboard is a USB version, it won't load, so then I get errors saying there is no keyboard... Anyone have an idea on that? I checked all power connections, so that shouldn't be the problem... unless my PSU is dying

Did you read the last bit of my post, Updating the firmware didn't work for me, I scrapped the drive and bought a pioneer one. Updating the firmware was supposed to be the solution, as with me, you may have just got a bad drive.


With the problems you have I would try to reformat and reinstall you XP Pro(thats once you have correct the dual boot option in you boot.ini)

This worked for me when I had a similar problem to you;

Control Panel
(In Category View)
Performance and Maintenance
System
Advanced
Settings under "Startup and Recovery"
Change the dropdown menu to /fastdetect /NoExecute for XP Pro or whatever OS you want it to run and untick the "Time to display list of operating systems" and "Time to display recovery options when needed".

If it doesn't work you can always just boot up again, go back into this and put it back.

Thanks Josh, that fixed the dual-boot problem

I'll call Lite-On monday and see what they say... looks like I might just RMA it through Newegg.

maybe the old disk with home on is partioned? or something?

I am totaly anal when it comes to fixing my puter so each time I re-format I do backups of everything and format each partion, then remove them and make new ones, just to get everything gone that could possible be there =)

No prob, by the way.

Try re-formatting again for a final time so it can format with all your new Hardware all detected and such.

Backup whatever you need (if you can). ;s

I'll reformat after I get a working burner. I was impatient when backing up my old system and deleted all my music files >.<

After spending 10 hours reloading it all, I am not going to lose it all... again.

Well, about the drive... I tried burning in Nero, and it all worked fine, so I have no idea why Windows won't let me drag and drop files into a "to be burned" thing... oh well, at least the drive works.

Fixed the non-recognizing keyboard by plugging in an old one and leaving it behind my desk. This lets the board see there is a kb, so it can move on and load my real kb up.

I think it's all better... finally