invalid boot.ini file in win 2k

[Brian Smith]

Following a routine installation of files from the Microsoft 'windows
update' site, I now have this issue during start-up !

After BIOS screen information I get the following line -

invalid boot.ini file
booting from C:\ Winnt\

After this line, Windows 2000 appears to boot and work normally !

In addition ........

My Computer / Properties / Advanced / Start Up Recovery .......... I now
cannot select an operating system, this is 'greyed' out.

Run / sysedit ........... I now have no text in msconfig or in autoexec.bat

I have tried booting from the win 2000 cd and running the repair console
along with the erd ........ all to no avail.

Any ideas out there would be appreciated, however keep it simple
............. I am not that experienced !

Brian

 

[Dave Patrick]

1.) Hard to say without seeing the text of boot.ini Probably missing the
'default=' line though.

Look for it in the root of the system partition (first primary active
partition)

Explorer|Tools|Folder Options|View, then radio button for "Show hidden files
and folders", then uncheck the box for "Hide protected operating system
files" to locate the files in the system partition.

2.) There is no msconfig in Windows 2000. Windows 2000 doesn't use
autoexec.bat

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]
Microsoft Certified Professional [Windows 2000]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect


:
| Following a routine installation of files from the Microsoft 'windows
| update' site, I now have this issue during start-up !
|
| After BIOS screen information I get the following line -
|
| invalid boot.ini file
| booting from C:\ Winnt\
|
| After this line, Windows 2000 appears to boot and work normally !
|
| In addition ........
|
| My Computer / Properties / Advanced / Start Up Recovery .......... I now
| cannot select an operating system, this is 'greyed' out.
|
| Run / sysedit ........... I now have no text in msconfig or in
autoexec.bat
|
| I have tried booting from the win 2000 cd and running the repair console
| along with the erd ........ all to no avail.
|
| Any ideas out there would be appreciated, however keep it simple
| ............ I am not that experienced !
|
| Brian
|
|

 

[Greg Stigers]

See the article at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows200.../techinfo/reskit/en-us/core/fndc_rec_ivxb.asp.
At the bottom, there is this section:

Recreating Boot.ini Using the Recovery Console
You can use the Emergency Repair Process to replace a missing or corrupted
Boot.ini file. Alternatively, you can use the map command to determine the
location of the disks. With this information, you can create a Boot.ini file
on another computer, and then use a floppy disk to transfer the Boot.ini
file to the original computer.
========

Alternately, you can use the copy to command to copy a correct boot.ini from
a diskette. However, it sounds like the only effect this is having is the
error message itself.

Greg Stigers, MCSA
this space for rent