Windows XP Fails to Boot with External Disks Attached: Fix

21 April 2009 @ 7pm

Several users have experienced an issue in which Windows XP fails to properly boot when external disks (either USB or FireWire) are attached. Generally, when this problem occurs, the system will hang at the Windows splash screen, forcing a restart. Disconnecting the drive(s) resolves the issue.

Fixes

Disable the 1394 Network Adapter If you are experiencing this issue with a drive that is connected via FireWire, try disabling the 1394 Network Adapter. This can be accomplished by going to the control panel, then selecting network connections. Right-click on the 1394 connection and select “Disable.”

Lower offending drive’s boot priority Enter your system’s BIOS mode. This is accomplished by pressing a specific key repeatedly as soon as your computer is turned on (or right after it is restarted). For many computers, the key is F8, but it may be F1, F2, F10, the Delete (del) key or the Escape (ESC) key. Consult your computer or motherboard’s manual or try different keys until you find the right one.

Next, find the boot priority (or boot sequence) screen–generally located in “storage” or a similar section–and lower the priority of the external drive that is causing the problem.

Switch connections If your computer has both USB and FireWire ports, and your drive support both USB and FireWire, try switching from one connection method to the other.

Apply Microsoft’s hotfix Microsoft supplies a hotfix for this issue as it affects FireWire drives, though not all users have experienced success.

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Windows XP