BOOTCFG missing at Command Prompt

[Ed Ferris]

After messing around with re-partitioning and re-installing, I now
have five (5) boot options, only two of which actually exist. Looking
in Help, it says there's BOOTCFG DELETE at Command Prompt which will
get rid of the exta entries. However, it's lying. Not recognized as
an internal command, executable or batch file. Do I have to load this
from some obscure Utilities CD?

I would think that's BOOTCFG /DELETE, but Help shows it without the
slash.

I get BOOTCFG in the Recovery Console (booting from WinXP CD), but it
doesn't have the DELETE switch (or option, or whatever).

 

[Rich Barry]

Ed, read about Bootcfg and it's options here. There is no delete option.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;314058

 

[Ed Ferris]

Ed, read about Bootcfg and it's options here. There is no delete
option.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;314058

On searching the Knowledge Base, I find that there's a Recovery
Console BOOTCFG, which doesn't have the /DELETE switch, and a command-
prompt BOOTCFG (supposedly), which does. Just like Help says. The KB
article says to Run CMD, instead of clicking Command Prompt, but it
gives the same result, BOOTCFG "not an internal command", etc.

Could it be that the command-line version is too Professional for XP
Home?

 

[AJR]

In the "olden days" DOS commands (today's CMD and Recovery console commands)
where available in two ways - 1. Commands were installed in the DOS or
Command folder and referred to as "internal commands" 2. Commands not
installed but available from another source e.g. floppy, etc. were referred
to as "external commands". Some commands, such as Bootcfg. are available in
XP Pro - not Home. Also if the default path (C:|Windows\System32) is
changed or corrupted you will receive "not internal...." error.

 

[Ron Martell]

After messing around with re-partitioning and re-installing, I now
have five (5) boot options, only two of which actually exist. Looking
in Help, it says there's BOOTCFG DELETE at Command Prompt which will
get rid of the exta entries. However, it's lying. Not recognized as
an internal command, executable or batch file. Do I have to load this
from some obscure Utilities CD?

I would think that's BOOTCFG /DELETE, but Help shows it without the
slash.

I get BOOTCFG in the Recovery Console (booting from WinXP CD), but it
doesn't have the DELETE switch (or option, or whatever).

Boot to the XP Recovery Console.
Make a backup copy of the boot.ini file.
Then use

BOOTCFG /REBUILD

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm

 

[Ed Ferris]

Again, let me say what worked, although it may not be the best way to
fix the problem.

The problem was that after re-partitioning and re-installing XP I had
five boot options every time I powered up the Inspiron 1200, although
I only have two Windows installations (XP and 98SE). This was because
I used BOOTCFG /REBUILD from the Recovery Console. It added a line
every time I ran it.

Help and Support Center describes (inaccurately) a BOOTCFG available
at the Command Prompt. Apparently that's XP Pro only, not my XP Home.

However, I went through My Computer > Properties > Advanced > Startup
and Recovery > Settings > Edit, and got BOOT.INI (which can't be found
in either partition) to edit in Notepad. I erased the three
extraneous lines, changed the names to "WinXP" and "Win98", saved the
file and exited Notepad. When I rebooted only those two options
appeared. A warning that I was using a modified BOOT.INI appeared,
but I checked "Don't show again," and it didn't.

 

[Ricky]

Going to start..run..msconfig..boot.ini tab and clicking the check all boot
paths tab might have worked also.

 

[Ron Martell]

Again, let me say what worked, although it may not be the best way to
fix the problem.

The problem was that after re-partitioning and re-installing XP I had
five boot options every time I powered up the Inspiron 1200, although
I only have two Windows installations (XP and 98SE). This was because
I used BOOTCFG /REBUILD from the Recovery Console. It added a line
every time I ran it.

That should not have happened. There may be something amiss with the
Partition Table in your hard drive.

The /REBUILD switch is only supposed to include boot entries for
bootable partitions that actually exist; and it has been my experience
that it performs that function consistently and reliably.

Anyway the important factor is that you have resolved the problem and
at this point the golden rule "if it ain't broke don't fix it"
applies.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

In memory of a dear friend Alex Nichol MVP
http://aumha.org/alex.htm