Can't Stop XP From Asking for Hardware Profile Selection

[Pork Chop]

First of all, every time I booted XP I was asked to select either XP itself or the
recovery console. I tried changing the system to boot, by default, to XP only.

Did not work.

Next, I used Microsoft's directions to remove the Recovery Console from the root of
the drive and the boot.ini file.

Now, every time I boot, I am sent to the Hardware Profile/Configuration Recovery Menu
where it wants me to select my profile.

Next, I used Microsoft's directions to set the system to automatically boot
to the default profile.

Did not work.

Every time I boot the machine I get this screen and have to select the default profile
(Profile 1) to continue the boot process. Everything else works just fine.

P.S. This is a FBI Scareware virus removal. I worked on the machine in the past
and it did not force me to choose between XP and the Recovery Console.

 

[Turcoloco]

Well, I am not sure either but since no one has replied yet, let me get the ball rolling:

- How many profiles does XP show you under "Hardware Profiles"?
If it is showing multiple, logically, I would suggest removing them from there.

- Does the hardware profile selection screen come up before or after you select and try to log in to a user profile?

 

[Pork Chop]

Well, I am not sure either but since no one has replied yet, let me get the ball rolling:

- How many profiles does XP show you under "Hardware Profiles"?
If it is showing multiple, logically, I would suggest removing them from there.

- Does the hardware profile selection screen come up before or after you select and try to log in to a user profile?

There was only 1 hardware profile. I just nuked the system because it
keeps having issue and now it is asking for New Hardware Profile. I've never
had an XP system ask me to select one.

Maybe my keyboard did something. It keeps acting up bad. I a new one
will be here soon.

I'm going to reinstall the OS again and see what happens.

 

[EvolutionElectronics]

all you should have had to do was modify the boot.ini to remove the boot prompt for the recovery console

 

[Turcoloco]

all you should have had to do was modify the boot.ini to remove the boot prompt for the recovery console

That is exactly what my initial suggestion would have been but in his original post, OP stated that he had already done that which threw me off.

Sometimes, when the OS is that problematic, especially after a really nasty malware infection, could be exactly what was needed.

With all the insanely advanced and sneaky rootkits and trojans, once the system is compromised, why even take a chance?

 

[Pork Chop]

My network security book says to reinstall the OS if you get a rootkit infection
because they're so bad you may never fully remove them.

I love doing nuke and paves when the OS gets Windows rot and runs like crap
even after a thorough tune up. I only charge my customers an additional $10
over the virus removal so I believe it's an excellent choice for them.

$65 gets them virus removal & tune up and they get back their PC with that
annoying hardware profile crap and not so wonderful performance.

$70 gets them their computer back to better than the day they purchased it
because there's no bloatware and I perform a full tune up.

With my new keyboard I was able to perform a fully successful wipe and had no
more prompts to select a hardware profile. It works excellent.

I installed Avast Free and recommended using Chrome over IE because
IE 8 will never be updated to the latest versions on XP. I also suggested
purchasing Avast Internet Security for addition protection.