Editing Boot.ini file

[jmsilver]

Thanks to those who told me how to edit the boot.ini file. I looked at it and saw something unexpected. It says the following:
[boot loader]
timeout=0
default=signature(9ff59ff5)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
signature(9ff59ff5)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect

I know to delete the second instance of multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0) etc., but what's with the "signature(9ff59ff5)"? What does that mean, why is it there, and should I take it out? Thanks in advance.

 

[jlanka]

KB article <A HREF="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q227704" target="_new"><font color=red>227704</font color=red></A> which is for 2K but I imagine it also applies to XP.

<i>It's always the one thing you never suspected.</i>

 

[jmsilver]

Thanks, I did not know whether that article applied to XP, and frankly I don't understand half of what it's saying (my own inexperience). However, I have a follow=up question:
I am experiencing the delay mentioned in article <A HREF="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q242518" target="_new"> 242518 </A>. When it says add a line using the multi() syntax, can anyone either tell me what line that would be, whether I would then take out the line with the signature() syntax, and how generally to accomplish this without having to do a clean reinstall? Thanks.