Using XP Pro. I cannot get the boot screen - DOS type allowing F key usage. Windows skips that and goes right into showing the Windows starting window.

It's set to the Classic Start Menu option. I've tried the other option - regular Start menu choice but it shows the same boot.

?

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On 09/04/2023 11:07, phil@invalidated.org wrote:

Using XP Pro. I cannot get the boot screen - DOS type allowing F key usage. Windows skips that and goes right into showing the Windows starting window.

It's set to the Classic Start Menu option. I've tried the other option - regular Start menu choice but it shows the same boot.

?

Please ask on the Usenet group - 'alt.computer.workshop'

--
David

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On 4/9/2023 7:41 AM, David Brooks wrote:

On 09/04/2023 11:07, phil@invalidated.org wrote:

Using XP Pro.  I cannot get the boot screen - DOS type allowing F key usage.
Windows skips that and goes right into showing the Windows starting window. >>
It's set to the Classic Start Menu option.  I've tried the other option - >> regular Start menu choice but it shows the same boot.

?

Please ask on the Usenet group - 'alt.computer.workshop'

You don't need to do that.

Edit boot.ini and duplicate the OS boot line.
When two boot items are present in boot.ini, the menu will display.

cd \
dir /ah # display hidden items (boot.ini)
notepad boot.ini # edit boot.ini , as Administrator

This is what happens. You get a boot menu.

[Picture]

https://i.postimg.cc/5Nzf2cPy/winxp-boot-menu.gif

Paul

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On 10/04/2023 02:28, Paul wrote:

On 4/9/2023 7:41 AM, David Brooks wrote:

On 09/04/2023 11:07, phil@invalidated.org wrote:

Using XP Pro.  I cannot get the boot screen - DOS type allowing F key
usage.
Windows skips that and goes right into showing the Windows starting
window.

It's set to the Classic Start Menu option.  I've tried the other
option -
regular Start menu choice but it shows the same boot.

?

Please ask on the Usenet group - 'alt.computer.workshop'

You don't need to do that.

Edit boot.ini and duplicate the OS boot line.
When two boot items are present in boot.ini, the menu will display.

   cd \
   dir /ah             # display hidden items (boot.ini)
   notepad boot.ini    # edit boot.ini , as Administrator

This is what happens. You get a boot menu.

   [Picture]

   https://i.postimg.cc/5Nzf2cPy/winxp-boot-menu.gif

  Paul

I wonder if "Phil" tried out your suggestion.

It would be good to know.

--
FU set to ACW

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On Sun, 9 Apr 2023 21:28:58 -0400, Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> wrote:

On 4/9/2023 7:41 AM, David Brooks wrote:

On 09/04/2023 11:07, phil@invalidated.org wrote:

Using XP Pro.  I cannot get the boot screen - DOS type allowing F key usage.
Windows skips that and goes right into showing the Windows starting window. >>>
It's set to the Classic Start Menu option.  I've tried the other option - >>> regular Start menu choice but it shows the same boot.

?

Please ask on the Usenet group - 'alt.computer.workshop'

You don't need to do that.

Edit boot.ini and duplicate the OS boot line.
When two boot items are present in boot.ini, the menu will display.

cd \
dir /ah # display hidden items (boot.ini)
notepad boot.ini # edit boot.ini , as Administrator

This is what happens. You get a boot menu.

[Picture]

https://i.postimg.cc/5Nzf2cPy/winxp-boot-menu.gif

Paul

I'm not quite understanding your answer. I can see my boot.ini file in C: root.

This is it -

[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

Why is my comp jumping right to Windows startup instead of allowing me the DOS DOS screen which allows F key inputs?

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On 4/11/2023 11:55 AM, phil@invalidated.org wrote:

On Sun, 9 Apr 2023 21:28:58 -0400, Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> wrote:

On 4/9/2023 7:41 AM, David Brooks wrote:

On 09/04/2023 11:07, phil@invalidated.org wrote:

Using XP Pro.  I cannot get the boot screen - DOS type allowing F key usage.
Windows skips that and goes right into showing the Windows starting window.

It's set to the Classic Start Menu option.  I've tried the other option - >>>> regular Start menu choice but it shows the same boot.

?

Please ask on the Usenet group - 'alt.computer.workshop'

You don't need to do that.

Edit boot.ini and duplicate the OS boot line.
When two boot items are present in boot.ini, the menu will display.

cd \
dir /ah # display hidden items (boot.ini)
notepad boot.ini # edit boot.ini , as Administrator

This is what happens. You get a boot menu.

[Picture]

https://i.postimg.cc/5Nzf2cPy/winxp-boot-menu.gif

Paul

I'm not quite understanding your answer. I can see my boot.ini file in C: root.

This is it -

[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

Why is my comp jumping right to Windows startup instead of allowing me the DOS
DOS screen which allows F key inputs?

I haven't experimented with MSDOS on a hard drive, because I don't
have the media for that. All I've got here, is floppy diskettes
made by doing " sys a: " in Windows 98SE. That command, makes a DOS
boot floppy.

There are various opinions on how to get MSDOS working, here.

https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=54726

*******

As long as boot.ini has a couple OS choices it needs to present,
that is what causes the "boot menu black screen" to appear.

I'm even using that black screen thing, on my other computer, when
selecting between win10 and win7 at boot time. I get that black screen.
And I did that on purpose, because it has the F8 choice for emergency usage.

Paul

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On 4/11/2023 11:55 AM, phil@invalidated.org wrote:

On Sun, 9 Apr 2023 21:28:58 -0400, Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> wrote:

On 4/9/2023 7:41 AM, David Brooks wrote:

On 09/04/2023 11:07, phil@invalidated.org wrote:

Using XP Pro.  I cannot get the boot screen - DOS type allowing F key usage.
Windows skips that and goes right into showing the Windows starting window.

It's set to the Classic Start Menu option.  I've tried the other option - >>>> regular Start menu choice but it shows the same boot.

?

Please ask on the Usenet group - 'alt.computer.workshop'

You don't need to do that.

Edit boot.ini and duplicate the OS boot line.
When two boot items are present in boot.ini, the menu will display.

cd \
dir /ah # display hidden items (boot.ini)
notepad boot.ini # edit boot.ini , as Administrator

This is what happens. You get a boot menu.

[Picture]

https://i.postimg.cc/5Nzf2cPy/winxp-boot-menu.gif

Paul

I'm not quite understanding your answer. I can see my boot.ini file in C: root.

This is it -

[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

Why is my comp jumping right to Windows startup instead of allowing me the DOS
DOS screen which allows F key inputs?

Do this, then get back to me after you reboot.

Even though the two lines are exactly the same, the boot loader does not notice that and it thinks the two lines are two OS choices to be listed in a menu.

[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
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

What this does, it is demonstrates how the OS switches to a boot menu,
when more than one boot choice is presented.

If you chain boot, then some sort of construct must go into the file, if
there is to be any chance to multiboot a second Microsoft OS.

I don't know what your objective is exactly, and that's just
to demonstrate the old menu.

*******

On a more modern Windows, this will turn on the black menu screen.
It includes an option to press F8 for Safe Mode.

bcdedit /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu True

*******

Third party programs are available as boot managers. I used to use
one back in Windows 98 days. The user "Mayayana" who visits this
group occasionally, is still using a third party boot manager.
(A third party boot manager which is not GRUB :-) )

Paul

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On Wed, 12 Apr 2023 04:38:44 -0400, Paul <nospam@needed.invalid>
wrote:

I give up. I tried using your boot.ini example. Didn't help.


[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 multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

I'm just going to leave things as they are. This machine is OLD, and
has problems. When more problems come up, I'll just bring it into a
comp repair place and get it setup with the original Win XP install
disc again.

Thanks for all your time and effort, but this whole thing is giving me nosebleeds. Time to quit. :o)

Thanks again.

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On Tue, 11 Apr 2023 10:55:31 -0500
phil@invalidated.org wrote:

Why is my comp jumping right to Windows startup instead of allowing me the DOS
DOS screen which allows F key inputs?

My understanding is that the delay or option to see the F keys at bootup is configured in BIOS. Maybe force entry into BIOS (usually pressing and holding the F11 or F8 key after turning the computer on). Or.. the manufacturer of the pc should have a
documented way to enter BIOS. Then, look around the settings for anything that resembles "Quick Boot" and turn that off.

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On 4/19/2023 6:40 PM, AugustA wrote:

On Tue, 11 Apr 2023 10:55:31 -0500
phil@invalidated.org wrote:

PO> Why is my comp jumping right to Windows startup instead of allowing me the DOS
PO> DOS screen which allows F key inputs?

My understanding is that the delay or option to see the F keys at bootup is configured in BIOS. Maybe force entry into BIOS (usually pressing and holding the F11 or F8 key after turning the computer on). Or.. the manufacturer of the pc should have a

documented way to enter BIOS. Then, look around the settings for anything that resembles "Quick Boot" and turn that off.


[boot loader]

timeout=30 <==== This is how long the black menu screen waits for your input

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
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

*******

The BIOS points to a particular boot device. If you have
several disks, the BIOS helps you select one of the disks.

A disk can have multiple OSes on it. The boot.ini in the example,
shows how I am faking the selection of two OSes. The boot process
does not care that the menu entries are duplicates. The black menu
screen wants you to "select 1 of N entries from the list" and then
the menu has done its job.

Modern motherboards have UEFI/CSM. CSM mode allows booting Windows XP.

However, Windows XP only has in-box support for certain
SATA interface operating modes. For other modes, a driver must
be loaded, and the manufacturers don't provide a driver for
Windows XP any more.

Paul

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