unresolved windows XP boot issue

[RugbyPlayer]

this is a question regarding my desktop computer which runs windows xp (it is an older rig)

It is one that i built, but this windows boot issue i cant figure out.

When i am booting the computer, if i do not have the windows xp disk in the drive, it doesnt boot. It doesnt give any error messages, it just gets to the point where it would normally show the "press any key to boot from disk" and i dont remember if it stay blank or shows a few periods

If i have the XP disc in, it display the "press any key to..." and once that option times out, it boots into windows XP without an issue

Any ideas?

[gerryf19]

is the drive sata or eide
check to make sure (in bios) that your hardrive with windows is set as the first harddrive...

[RugbyPlayer]

is the drive sata or eide
check to make sure (in bios) that your hardrive with windows is set as the first harddrive...

its sata and it is set to drive 0

[gerryf19]

Has it always done this? What is the OS? what other drives do you have. Is there a raid installed?

It certainly sounds like your boot configuration data is messed up....

[RugbyPlayer]

no its only done it after a fresh install about a month ago, just the normal drivers, my mobo, gfx card, wireless card. no raid controllers have ever been installed

[gerryf19]

post your boot.ini file....it is in the root of your drive as a hidden system file.

I stupidly read over the subject...this is Windows XP so we won't need bcedit.

[RugbyPlayer]

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

[RugbyPlayer]

anybody have thoughts?

[JOSEA]

Just as a test, enter the BIOS and disable all boot options except the hard drive. IF there is an error booting let us know. Maybe reset the BIOS to all default settings??
You could also try Microsoft Corporation

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

[gerryf19]

your boot.ini looks fine

With SHOW SYSTEM AND HIDDEN FILES enabled in folder options, see if the following files are in the root

- boot.ini
- ntdetect.com
- ntldr