dual boot, double boot!

[lib319]

Hi there

I have win98se and xp pro dual boot. For some reason when I boot and choose XP from the boot loader it gets to a point during the XP splash screen where the PC restarts and I have to choose to "boot normally" from the error screen (windows didn't boot due to power failure...etc). It always boots properly 2nd time but I'm hoping this isn't indicitive of a bigger and possibly 'future terminal' problem.
If I lose my PC I lose my TV, 3000 mp3s, DVD player, VCR..eveything!

Any ideas why and how to fix?

AMD 2400 XP, K7s5a mobo, 512 mb ram

[Quantax]

If this is a problem with the XP boot sector code, it could be resolved through the "Fixboot" command used in the Recovery Console.

[Whyzman]

If I lose my PC...3000 mp3s

I've begun to call it Sylvander's Mantra..."Back up your important stuff!!

[Bumstedmans]

yeah, you could just buy a CD burner (like $40.00us at your local electronics chain. Definately worth not having to put up with 98SE.

-The Bumstedman

[lib319]

I have a cd burner, 3000+ mp3 = 20gig = 29 CDRW = NO WAY

[Paleo Pete]

Let's see...that adds up to no more than $30 US, how much would 3000 songs on the original CDs cost? CD-R discs can be found at better prices than that, a dollar each is about the most you'll pay. How about music on original CD's? I can spend $30 on two of 'em and that's only if I check the sale racks, $15-17 per CD is about average. Not backing it all up means you eventually lose it, period. Maybe sooner, mabye later, but you lose it in the end.

OK on to the problem at hand...WHAT are you using to get all those mp3 songs? If it's Kazaa, you have a definite problem. Kazaa installs at least 4 spyware applications, all of which can and do download and install more, and it's also a virus/trojan magnet. If that's the case, DUMP KAZAA, turn off system restore, and clean up the system.

I'm just guessing at what the root of the problem is, I may be wrong, if so, let us know what applications are running, and we can go from there.

[lib319]

For me making 29 CDs as backup and the thought of restoring them all after a catastophe just for the MP3s = Hassle (with a capital H you'll note). DVD burner will be here on Weds though which = 5-6 DVDs which I can live with.

Plus there is the backup of the OS partitions and the Programs partition too which would add another 30 CDrws into the mix. But yes, back it up or lose it, I've had one HDD crash before and I've had many a scare using things like Partition Magic where huge chunks of data are 'lost'.

I use Acronis Drive Image to make back ups onto my Data hard disk (120 gig) but of course with the DVD burner I will be backing up onto media rather than the HDD because I cannot lose all this stuff, I think I would just sell the PC if that happened and become a monk.

Don't use Kazzaa and I don't think its spyware; adaware and spyware blaster are clean and ZA firewall and Sophos anti virus are up to date.

On startup nothing unusual runs. I'll have a look at my startups when I get home from work though. Have a nice weekend!

lib