Accidently deleted boot.ini.file

  • Thread starter Thread starter Neo
  • Start date Start date
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Neo

Hi i unstalled a anti virus program from my computer, then
i went to restart my computer it said that i didnt have
c:\boot.ini.file
The problem is that i dont have my xp cd so i cant get it
from there!!!
So how can i get this file back??
 
"Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows could not start" error messages when you start your computer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330184&Product=winxp

How to Replace Lost, Broken, or Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[ln];326246

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Hi i unstalled a anti virus program from my computer, then
| i went to restart my computer it said that i didnt have
| c:\boot.ini.file
| The problem is that i dont have my xp cd so i cant get it
| from there!!!
| So how can i get this file back??
 
BOOT.INI does not come from the XP CDROM. Rather, it is created when XP is
installed. In theory it is "customized" to your installation of XP, but in
practice most PCs have the same BOOT.INI file. The good news is that
BOOT.INI is a small text file that can be created/modified in any editor.

But, first, look for an older/backup copy that might be lying around the
hard drive. It is probably called BOOT.BAK or similar. Rename it BOOT.INI
and be sure that it is in the root of the C:\ drive, even if XP is not on
that partition.

If you can not find a older/backup copy, try taking one from another machine
running the same verison of XP. Adjust the path to point to your
installation of XP. As an example, here is my BOOT.INI, where XP is
installed on C:\. Note that disk(0)partition(1) is C:\.

[boot loader]

timeout =15

default = multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect


Other key files that must also be present on C:\ are NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM.

As for how to see/change files on the hard drive without XP running, the
best way would be to run the XP recovery console. For that you need an XP
CDROM, any XP CDROM. Or, you can download the multiple-floppy disk set of
files that is similar from Microsoft. See the following link:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=310994

If the disk is FAT32, you could also use a DOS boot floppy, such as from
win98 or ME. Those are available at www.bootdisk.com. Be sure to get a
copy of EDIT.COM, a simple DOS text editior, in case you need it.
 
-----Original Message-----
<snip> As an example, here is my BOOT.INI, where XP is
installed on C:\. Note that disk(0)partition(1) is C:\.
Click to expand...
More specifically, IIRC, disk(0) refers to the primary
IDE port; disk(1) would be the secondary port
and rdisk(0) refers to the master position on the cable
while rdisk(1) would be the slave position

Why those are 0-based and the partition is 1-based, I
have no idea.
[boot loader]

timeout =15

default = multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect


Other key files that must also be present on C:\ are NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM.

As for how to see/change files on the hard drive without XP running, the
best way would be to run the XP recovery console. For that you need an XP
CDROM, any XP CDROM. Or, you can download the multiple- floppy disk set of
files that is similar from Microsoft. See the following link:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=310994

If the disk is FAT32, you could also use a DOS boot floppy, such as from
win98 or ME. Those are available at www.bootdisk.com. Be sure to get a
copy of EDIT.COM, a simple DOS text editior, in case you need it.

Neo said:
Hi i unstalled a anti virus program from my computer, then
i went to restart my computer it said that i didnt have
c:\boot.ini.file
The problem is that i dont have my xp cd so i cant get it
from there!!!
So how can i get this file back??
Click to expand...


.
Click to expand...
 
Michael Pardee said:
More specifically, IIRC, disk(0) refers to the primary
IDE port; disk(1) would be the secondary port
and rdisk(0) refers to the master position on the cable
while rdisk(1) would be the slave position
Click to expand...

The 80-core IDE ribbon cable does NOT have a "master"
or a "slave" position. Either plug can be used for a master
or a slave disk. The distinction is made on the hard disk
itself, by setting certain jumpers.
 
For the first time, the 80-conductor cable defines specific roles for each
of the connectors on the cable; the older cable did not. Color coding of the
connectors is used to make it easier to determine which connector goes with
each device:
Blue: The blue connector attaches to the host (motherboard or controller).
Gray: The gray connector is in the middle of the cable, and goes to any
slave (device 1) drive if present on the channel.
Black: The black connector is at the opposite end from the host connector
and goes to the master drive (device 0), or a single drive if only one is
used.
There are a couple of reasons why this coding was done. The main one: it is
not a good idea to connect a single drive to the middle connector on a
ribbon cable, because the "stub" of left-over, unconnected cable causes
signaling problems. With Ultra DMA this "stub" connection is not just "not
recommended", it is illegal: a single device must be at the end of the
cable. The other reason is that since these cables support cable select
inherently, the position of each drive on the cable matters if cable select
is being used. With these two needs combined, it just made sense to design
the cable so that drive positioning was explicitly clear.
 
Minor correction to the posting Pegasus

Drive Position: Unlike the old cables, with the 80-conductor cable, the
master connector is at the end of the cable, and the slave is in the
middle. As I explained above, this is a much more sensible arrangement,
since a single drive placed at the end of the cable will be a master,
and a second drive added in the middle a slave.

quoted from
http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/if/ide/confCS-c.html
 
Michael in his reply failed to mention it, and you only touch
it in passing: Master/slave positions on the 80-core cable are
only relevant in ***cable select*** mode. According to the
link below, "cable select was never accepted in the industry".
The vast majority of installations do not use "cable select",
hence the connectors on the cable have no bias.
http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/if/ide/confCS-c.html
 
Master disk must be connected to the end of 80-wire cable. Regarding 40-wire
cable, using the middle connector and leaving the end connector unattached
is technically allowed but not recommended.
 
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