USB boot-up problem

I have a Compaq PC, winXP home, that runs very well. My problem is that when
I connect up my external USB harddrives prior to boot-up, the OS will not
load, and I get a "cannot load OS" message. After boot-up, I can plug in the
hd's and the computer sees them and all is ok.
I had this problem previously (before moving the computer) and it turned out
that the BIOS was interpreting the floppy disc in the order of "load OS's"
as the external hd's and was trying to boot off the ext. hd's. Fixed that
and all was well for a time, now my problems back. I've juggled all the
possible combinations in the boot-up sequence in the BIOS, no help. My
question is: is there another place that boot-up information is accessed by
the computer other than BIOS information? I ran msconfig, looked at
"boot.ini" but didn't know what I was looking at so left it alone. Need an
idea here, thanks.

On Wed, 05 Oct 2005 02:30:08 GMT, "salaryman"
<salaryman@socal.rr.com> wrote:

>I have a Compaq PC, winXP home, that runs very well. My problem is that when
>I connect up my external USB harddrives prior to boot-up, the OS will not
>load, and I get a "cannot load OS" message. After boot-up, I can plug in the
>hd's and the computer sees them and all is ok.

Does your bios have settings for boot device priority (it'll
be worded a bit different than that, basically a setting to
choose the HDD controller and that specific OS - holding HDD
as the first boot device?

>I had this problem previously (before moving the computer) and it turned out
>that the BIOS was interpreting the floppy disc in the order of "load OS's"
>as the external hd's and was trying to boot off the ext. hd's. Fixed that
>and all was well for a time, now my problems back. I've juggled all the
>possible combinations in the boot-up sequence in the BIOS, no help. My
>question is: is there another place that boot-up information is accessed by
>the computer other than BIOS information? I ran msconfig, looked at
>"boot.ini" but didn't know what I was looking at so left it alone. Need an
>idea here, thanks.

When you get this "cannot load OS" message, this is prior to
any windows logo, yes? If so, there is no windows related
setting that would matter, it would be an issue of bios
settings. Perhaps you have a "try other boot devices" type
of setting? This is among the reasons why OEM systems and
their more limited bios configuration options can be a PITA.

"salaryman" <salaryman@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
news:QUG0f.10$Ao4.4@tornado.socal.rr.com...
>I have a Compaq PC, winXP home, that runs very well. My problem is that
>when
> I connect up my external USB harddrives prior to boot-up, the OS will not
> load, and I get a "cannot load OS" message. After boot-up, I can plug in
> the
> hd's and the computer sees them and all is ok.
> I had this problem previously (before moving the computer) and it turned
> out
> that the BIOS was interpreting the floppy disc in the order of "load OS's"
> as the external hd's and was trying to boot off the ext. hd's. Fixed that
> and all was well for a time, now my problems back. I've juggled all the
> possible combinations in the boot-up sequence in the BIOS, no help. My
> question is: is there another place that boot-up information is accessed
> by
> the computer other than BIOS information? I ran msconfig, looked at
> "boot.ini" but didn't know what I was looking at so left it alone. Need an
> idea here, thanks.
>
>
Before WinXP has loaded, there are no USB drivers loaded, it confuses the
boot up.
As Kony says some systems can be config`d in the BIOS.
bw..OJ

I just built a new computer and it had something in the bios that might be
relevant. It was concerning legacy USB devices, but basically it was in
case you wanted to use USB devices to boot, like a thumb drive. I got the
impression it would load USB drivers if set to enable. If you did not want
to use them, you could turn the option off, so you might look for that type
of entry.

Clark

"salaryman" <salaryman@socal.rr.com> wrote in message
news:QUG0f.10$Ao4.4@tornado.socal.rr.com...
>I have a Compaq PC, winXP home, that runs very well. My problem is that
>when
> I connect up my external USB harddrives prior to boot-up, the OS will not
> load, and I get a "cannot load OS" message. After boot-up, I can plug in
> the
> hd's and the computer sees them and all is ok.
> I had this problem previously (before moving the computer) and it turned
> out
> that the BIOS was interpreting the floppy disc in the order of "load OS's"
> as the external hd's and was trying to boot off the ext. hd's. Fixed that
> and all was well for a time, now my problems back. I've juggled all the
> possible combinations in the boot-up sequence in the BIOS, no help. My
> question is: is there another place that boot-up information is accessed
> by
> the computer other than BIOS information? I ran msconfig, looked at
> "boot.ini" but didn't know what I was looking at so left it alone. Need an
> idea here, thanks.
>
>