Boot Order Fubar

Boot order is set in the bios routine. The screen should tell you on bootup which key you need to press to access it (it may be called Setup). Then, it should be pretty much self explanatory. Failing that, what kind of computer is it? Note: if you setup the boot order, and it changes itself back again, you may have a hardware failure in the motherboard - a battery or chip failure.

If it is a hardware problem, you could try re-flashing the BIOS.
You should be able to download a file from the motherboard
manufacturers website. Follow the instructions very carefully.
Or get someone more expert to do it.

Could be also be a flat battery on the m/b, only seen this a half a dozen times
times though in ~20 years.

Of course, whenever system updates want to restart my computer - usually in the middle of the nigh

You can change update options Control Panel-> System and Security-> Windows Update-> Change settings.
Various options to set date/time, download but dont install, ask every time.

I have mine turned off, and manually check each day, precisely to stop it doing it when I'm working on something.

It could be another update program though. I find Apple updates (for Quicktime) particularly obnoxious, and Adobe
updates always seem to result in a crash

Do you have a CD sitting in the PC?

Even if you have the CD drive listed first the system will skip it after it finds out that there is no CD.

If the boot order actually changed recently do to some update or backup... just use the advice above and go into your BIOS and reset the order.

Good Luck!


best regards,
mike

Yeah, should have been a bit clearer.

Try the boot order thing, then if it doesn't do that
then try flashing BIOS and replacing battery.

Worth a shot, and if it works it'll save the cost of buying a new m/b!

 You can check to see if it's a windows error by going to Start> Run> type in msconfig  Go to boot ini tab, should be able to find and repair windows boot errors from there.

Yes, and I agree about BIOS flash as a last resort only.

F2 F2 F2 gotta be quick to see it sometimes??

what PC? model?

yes but most late model PCs F2= Bios F12=boot order (set under BIOS)
but you are correct, until Julie tells us her EXACT PC model we are in the dark as to help her

bitflipper


It's "Julianna", not "Julie". "Julie" is a cheerleader. Julianna was one of those girls who beat cheerleaders up in the back of the bus.

And you thought I could do something to scare here away?


Never!


She'd just beat me up in the back (or front) of the bus.

I can NOT believe it's taken me an entire day to get back here and check up.  Argh.

Bit's right, as usual.  Listen to the man... and keep your eye on the back of the bus... ;)  Oh, and I absolutely ADORE how you assume it was Bapu who scared me away.... HAHAHHAHA!  As if... You guys are too sweet.  All y'all.  :D

First off, the pertinent information (no s****ing at the goofy girl, now.  I don't limit myself to beating up cheerleaders):

Gateway SX2800-01r
Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200
Windows 7 in 64-bit
Hard Drive = WDC-WD6400AAKS-22A7B2

That being said, (in regard to MNorman's first post), this is what I've been doing... on startup, F12 to access the boot order menu, arrow down to the Hard drive (which is the second option on the list) and <enter>.  Then, all is fine.  Windows goes zip bam boom, and I have no problems (until the next time the system is shut down).

I'm not actually RESETTING the boot order in this step... just selecting something other than the default, I guess.  So why is the CD now the default?

No, Mike... There are NO CDs in my drive upon start up.  So... after the initial BIOS screen flashes for a second, if I DON'T access the boot menu, I get nothing but a blank stare from the monitor as there are no boot instructions on the CD drive. 

Thinking that MAYBE this happened after the back up discs were created... I have considered booting from the back up, but do NOT want to do so unless absolutely necessary. 

See, there really aren't ANY issues with my hard drive, or my data or anything else.  Just that the boot order got screwy.    I think Jan is on to something, and that's what I'll attempt first. 

Eric, you know Adobe DOES always seem to set me up for a crash... and sometimes the Quicktime as well.  I feel you, man.  Gonna hold out on re-flashing the BIOS until I see what Jan's idea gives me. 

Didn't think to run msconfig, though, Grant... will be doing that in a second, too...  I can say though, that when I look at the boot order screen, it IS showing the CD drive as the first option, so I'd say it is not a Windows issue, but a BIOS one. 

OK Then!  I'm off to check some things.  THANK YOU ALL! 

/J

I liked it
Good Luck Julianna, hope ya get it figured out minus the head ache 

Hey, Jules  - there's a lot of good technical advice going on right now, so I thought I would offer you an alternate solution you can use if you get tired of sensible and logical behavior: 

 


You can find the hammer under the front seat of the bus....

I think the CD being first is probably  correct that is what you want to check first if your HD does indeed crash and you need to boot from a boot disk, Maybe it is something in Ms config that will show you why it's not progressing as normal.

Great News.

Thanks for sharing Juliana!!!

:-)

Years ago I just gave up and used a Sharpie to write F2 on one of my monitor's fore brow.


:-)