Holding down "Option" on startup and selecting Windows crashes machine

[terry312]

Hi everyone - I fully admit I signed up just to ask this question, but I have searched the web for a few days without seeing anything really related to my concern.

Basically, the subject says it all. I'm using Windows XP and OS X 10.6. I successfully installed XP, and after working in Windows for a while, I restarted to go back into OS X. Now, whenever I restart and hold down "option" to boot into windows, I can't do it. When I click on "Windows" (or select Windows through the keyboard) the system freezes. The mouse won't move and nothing I do on the keyboard has any effect.

So again, I am just stumped. Does anyone know what's going on?

Thanks in advance.

[Jesse714]

Hmm, Well boot up in OS X, Go into the System Preferences, And Go into Startup Disk, (Next to TimeMachine) and select windows, and then restart, this is going to automatically startup in windows, instead of having to use the Option key, if it works, Try switching back, and trying to boot into windows with Option.

[djackmac]

Sounds like your Windows directory is hosed. Best make a backup with Winclone (http://twocanoes.com/winclone/) if you have valuable data on that side.

[Satcomer]

Plus have you tried to go to System Preferences->Startup Disk and see if that boots into Windows?