Windows always displays the boot menu...

Alternatively, you can also change this manually from a command prompt. Boot to a DOS prompt with a Windows startup disk. When you're at a DOS prompt, make sure you're at the C:\ prompt. Then type attrib -s -h -r msdos.sys and hit Enter to remove the system, hidden, and read-only attributes for this file. Now type edit msdos.sys and hit Enter. In the resulting window, look for the section titled [Options]. This section might contain the line BootMenu=1. Change the '1' to a '0', save the file and exit the editor. Now reset the correct attributes for the file by typing attrib +s +h +r msdos.sys and hit Enter. Now reboot and see if it now boots automatically into Windows

 

Yet another way of changing these options are via TweakUI. Under the Boot tab in TweakUI you will find an option to active or deactivate the boot menu, as well as changing the boot menu delay. For information on how to install and use TweakUI please see our article on Tweaking Windows. 

"Cannot find WIN.COM, unable to continue loading Windows"

"Cannot find a file that may be needed to run Windows"

This happens when a Windows system file is renamed or deleted by accident. Most importantly, when you see this screen, stop and write down the name of the file in question. Then push a key and see if Windows will continue to load after all, often it will. To correct the problem, you need to extract a copy of the missing file from the Windows Cab files. If you have Windows 98, this can be done pretty easily if you can still get into Windows with a command called System File Checker, or short SFC. If you cannot get into Windows anymore or don't have Windows 98, you need to use the Extract command from the DOS prompt. For detailed instructions on restoring Windows system files, please see our article on Repairing Windows System Files.

Registry Errors

Summary