How to Solve the Boot Camp Disk Error
Press Any Key To Restart Probem

Here is the Solution to the Boot Camp "Disk Error Press Any Key To Restart"

Boot Camp is a program that will help you to install Microsoft Windows on your Mac with just a few clicks. However, it took me three days to figure out how to do it.

On this page you will find the solution to the "Disk Error, Press Any Key To Restart" problem a lot of boot camp users seem to encounter. I battled with this for 3 days until I finally found the solution.

Background:

The "Disk Error, Press Any Key To Restart" message appears after you have installed windows XP and wait for your Mac to boot into Windows for the first time.

The Problem:

The reason this message appears is that Windows doesn't recognize the file system on the partion where you installed Windows XP.

Boot Camp pre-formats the partion when you first decide how big partion you want. You know the screen where you can choose 32GB or use the slide to determine how big partion you want.

Then when you are running the windows installer (who takes forever to load), the installer determin the partion Boot Camp made as FAT32. Here's the problem. You have to format the Boot Camp partion using the Windows Installer. If you don't do this, Windows will be installed on a file system it doesn't recognize and the "Disk Error Press Any Key To Restart" will appear when the installer is finished and try to boot into Windows.

How To Format The Partion Using The Windows Installer:

Here's where I got stuck and searched for an answer for 3 days before finding out how to do it.

When using the windows installer, you should be given the option to format the file system before windows is being installed. This is not always the case..

Appearantly there are different versions of the Windows Installer Software. Some gives you the option while others just goes ahead and install Windows without asking you if you want to format the partion first.

So the option to format the partion to either FAT32 or NTFS file system, depends on which type of Windows CD you have.

If you already have the option to format the file system before installing Windows, then the fix is easy. Simply choose to format the partion to either: FAT32 or NTFS.

The screen should look like the one below.. You will have a fifth choice which says something like: "Leave the partion as it is" DO NOT CHOOSE THIS OPTION!

You have to format the partion to either FAT32 or NTFS. If you choose FAT32, you will be able to both read and write to the partion. If you choose NTFS, you will only be able to read the partion.

What Should You Do If You Don't Have The Option Format The Partion In The Windows Installer

This is what happened to me.. I didn't get the chance to format the file system after I choosed which partion to install Windows on. The installer just went on and installed directly, and eventually I got the "Disk Error" messsage.

The fix for this is to obtain a different Windows Installer CD which have the option to format the partion.

Now the question arise.. Which Windows CD do you need?

I didn't have the the time or the money going out and buying every kind of Windows CD, just to find the right one. I already have bought a copy of Windows and I didn't want to buy another one.. So I asked a friend, (who uses Windows) to download one from a torrent site..

Now, after a lot of testing he finally found a CD that offered the format option.

I don't know if I'm allowed to link to a torrent site, but the name of the windows CD is: "Windows XP Professional SP2 Integrated Sept 2008" Just do a search for it on google and you should be able to find it. Once you find it then burn it with a program that allows you to burn CD images (ISO) and you have yourself the right CD.

You can also try to buy a new copy of Windows XP, but I can't tell you which one to buy.. =(!

I hope this helps any problem you have with Boot Camp. Below are some links that will help you even further on how to successfully install Windows XP on your MAC.

Free Spyware Detection and Removal Downloads

Why You Need Spyware Detection & Removal

If you're a regular internet and Microsoft Windows user than you've more than likely had your computer affected by spyware at one time or another, and you may even have it on your system as you read this. Spyware is an often intrusive and computer-clogging type of malware that attaches itself to your personal computer. The spyware functions to find your internet browsing habits, including which websites you visit regularly, so it can collect data on people's habits. However, spyware can also change various settings on your PC, re-direct your internet browser to specific sites, and clog up your computer system, slowing down its speed. It's therefore essential to download free spyware detection and removal programs so that you can eliminate these harmful types of malware from your system.

Running anti-spyware programs on a regular basis should be made part of your monthly "To Do" list when it comes to maintaining your computer's security. It's important to install more than one type of anti-spyware software as well because sometimes one program will not find every type of spyware. Therefore, a second spyware detection or removal program will be able to find any items that were missed and help you eliminate those as well.

Spyware Detection & Removal Informaiton

It's important to note some distinctions in anti-spyware software. First, there are programs which were created to run "real time" on your computer and block or deny any perceived spyware from installing itself onto your PC. These tend to be included with paid-for internet security suites such as those offered by Norton Symantec, Trend Micro's PC-cillin or Kaspersky Internet Security. For example, Kaspersky will routinely pop up message boxes on the computer screen alerting the user when a website may be trying to install spyware. The PC user can then decide if the threat needs to be dealt with or can be dismissed.

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At times, the spyware search process can take quite a while depending on how many files or folders are on your computer. Generally, the anti-spyware program will scan your registry and other system files as well as latest programs installed, then compare the file info to the latest spyware info. From there it will add any perceived spyware found in your files to a list, and the user can choose to quarantine or eliminate the threats once the spyware scan has finished.

Spyware detection and removal software should be updated regularly as well to make sure you have the latest databases of spyware. Otherwise, your search may miss some of the newer spyware that's attached itself to your computer system.

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition Download

AVG is another solid offering in the realm of both spyware detection/removal as well as anti-virus software. AVG offers a free download of Anti-Virus Free Edition, which is compatible with Windows 7, XP and Vista operating systems. The application includes both free Anti-virus and Anti-spyware protection. While it offers good protection against viruses, spyware, adware and trojans, it will not offer anti-rootkits, Anti-Spam, web shield, firewall or identity protection. For that internet security protection you'll most likely need to buy a complete anti-virus internet security package.

Lavasoft Ad-Aware Free Download

Lavasoft is the software publisher of several internet security products, in paid and unpaid versions. Lavasoft Ad-Aware Free is its free anti-spyware offering and is currently in its "Anniversary Edition". It promises to give real-time protection against spyware, trojans, rootkis, hijackers, keyloggers and more. In plain English, these are the kinds of threats anyone with a hi-speed internet connection should be protecting themselves against. I strongly recommend installing Ad-Aware as your first free spyware detection and removal download, and then choose a second anti-spyware program to use in addition.

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Free Spybot Search & Destroy

Also known as Spyboy S&D, Spybot Search and Destroy is one of the more popular free spyware detection and removal downloads. Spybot is a free application to scan for spyware, adware, hijackers and other malicious software. The latest version as of this writing is 1.6.2, and the program can be manually updated as you choose to make sure your anti-spyware definitions and database is up to date. Spybot touts itself as one of the faster spyware detection and removal programs there is, although some users have claimed the program scans slowly, and a patch was released to help speed things up. Spybot is a trusted anti-spyware program for download which you can use in addition to one other program to keep your PC spyware free!

Microsoft Windows Defender Free Download

Microsoft also offers its own free spyware detection and removal download. Their program "Windows Defender" is available to download for genuine copies of Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later, or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 or later. It's standard inclusion with all comptuers running the Windows Vista operating system, so no need to download this if you've got one. Otherwise, if you're still using XP this can be a great additional spyware removal program. Defender claims to identify and find all the latest spyware hidden in your computer files, then allows you to remove any of the threats at your discretion. Should you remove a program by mistake, the Defender application makes it easy to retrieve it. The Windows Defender program also can do automatic updates to its database definitions to keep you protected against the latest threats.

I experienced with the program is that it is quite difficult to uninstall, in fact it may require a complete reinstallation of Windows XP for some people looking to get a clean uninstall. Otherwise it's a very effective and well-updated spyware removal application.