Problem getting windows XP to load after BIOS reset to default

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humanbob1

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#1 humanbob1
Member since 2005 • 254 Posts

Need some help with a Windows XP boot problem.

I mistakenly reset my BIOS to factory default settings. Now whenever the computer starts it doesn't boot Windows XP, it just goes straight to 'Nvidia Boot Agent', which is fourth on the boot priority list in the BIOS after floppy/DVD/HDD.

When it loads this Nvidia boot agent thing, it's just a black screen with 'CLIENT MAC ADDR:' then a series of random characters.

I can still gain access to the BIOS by hitting DEL at the first start-up page.

I'm unsure how to get Windows to load back to normal from here, I presume it still exists in the HDD in its entirety but I have no idea how I can get it returned to normal without a full re-install of Windows.

Would appreciate any help.

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nilzg

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#3 nilzg
Member since 2008 • 753 Posts
try disabling the boot agent thing and setting your HD is priority number 1
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humanbob1

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#4 humanbob1
Member since 2005 • 254 Posts
Still not working, have changed the boot priority and still doing the same thing.
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jun_aka_pekto

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#5 jun_aka_pekto
Member since 2010 • 25255 Posts

Did you change the BIOS settings for the hard drive yourself or you didn't mess with it at all? If you adjusted other settings in the BIOS that had nothing to do with the hard drive, then the hard drive should not be affected.

If it's a relatively recent board, there's only two hard drive settings (aside from enabling RAID) I'm aware of. Those are SATA IDE Mode or SATA AHCI Mode. That's assuming you have a SATA hard drive. If you have an IDE hard drive, the BIOS should default to IDE Mode.