Boot.ini Change

[WMB]

Windows XP, SP3, IE7, OE6

Hi, and thanks for any help.

I want to add a switch ( /pae ) to my working boot.ini file. Using search
on my computer to fine the file only displayed a file in a backup.

Entering c:\boot.ini into the start>run box opened boot.ini in notepad but
its marked read only and would not accept any changes.

WHY: I want to turn on software DEP for my machine.

How can I locate the working ini file to change its attributes before
opening it in Notepad?

Thanks again for any help

 

[Jim]

Windows XP, SP3, IE7, OE6

Hi, and thanks for any help.

I want to add a switch ( /pae ) to my working boot.ini file. Using
search on my computer to fine the file only displayed a file in a backup.

Entering c:\boot.ini into the start>run box opened boot.ini in notepad but
its marked read only and would not accept any changes.

WHY: I want to turn on software DEP for my machine.

How can I locate the working ini file to change its attributes before
opening it in Notepad?

Thanks again for any help

The usual procedure for making changes to boot.ini is to use msconfig.
However, if you are determined to use notepad, you must first remove the
readonly property. If I remember correctly, there is a box in the secutity
tab which sets the readonly on or off. Of course, you first need to disable
simple file sharing to see the security tab. Perhaps now you understand why
it is much quicker to use msconfig.

Jim

 

[WMB]

The usual procedure for making changes to boot.ini is to use msconfig.
However, if you are determined to use notepad, you must first remove the
readonly property. If I remember correctly, there is a box in the
secutity tab which sets the readonly on or off. Of course, you first need
to disable simple file sharing to see the security tab. Perhaps now you
understand why it is much quicker to use msconfig.

Jim

Hi Jim, Thanks for the reply

My problem is I do not know how to make any change to the Boot.ini when it
opens. Start>Run>Msconfig>Enter.

Clicking on Boot.ini in msconfig opens what I want but I am unable to add or
change anything. In fact the last line in my Boot.ini is what I want to
add - Space /pae
On my computer that last line opens highlighted. Thanks again

 

[John John (MVP)]

Hi Jim, Thanks for the reply

My problem is I do not know how to make any change to the Boot.ini when it
opens. Start>Run>Msconfig>Enter.

Clicking on Boot.ini in msconfig opens what I want but I am unable to add or
change anything. In fact the last line in my Boot.ini is what I want to
add - Space /pae

Why do you want to add the PAE switch? Other than allowing you to
create a pagefile larger than 4,095 MB it will not do much of anything
on Windows XP, furthermore, if you are using Data Execution Prevention
(DEP) PAE is automatically enabled.

John

 

[WMB]

Why do you want to add the PAE switch? Other than allowing you to create
a pagefile larger than 4,095 MB it will not do much of anything on Windows
XP, furthermore, if you are using Data Execution Prevention (DEP) PAE is
automatically enabled.

John

Thanks for answering John, I was following the directions for a "Tweak" I
found in the newsletter Windows Secrets for turning on PAE when DEP is not
enabled by hardware but can be enabled by software. The instructions said
to use Notepad. Because my existing Boot.ini is read only, the
modifications would not take.

As stated above if the normal way to change the boot.ini is from msconfig,
any steps to doing so will be appreciated.

 

[John John (MVP)]

Thanks for answering John, I was following the directions for a "Tweak" I
found in the newsletter Windows Secrets for turning on PAE when DEP is not
enabled by hardware but can be enabled by software. The instructions said
to use Notepad. Because my existing Boot.ini is read only, the
modifications would not take.

As stated above if the normal way to change the boot.ini is from msconfig,
any steps to doing so will be appreciated.

You will have to edit the Boot.ini file directly, with Notepad, the
Msconfig utility does not offer an option to add the PAE switch. To be
able to edit and save the file you will have to temporarily remove the
Read-Only attribute.

John

 

[Jim]

Hi Jim, Thanks for the reply

My problem is I do not know how to make any change to the Boot.ini when it
opens. Start>Run>Msconfig>Enter.

Clicking on Boot.ini in msconfig opens what I want but I am unable to add
or change anything. In fact the last line in my Boot.ini is what I want to
add - Space /pae
On my computer that last line opens highlighted. Thanks again

Well, I was wrong. You are correct, msconfig does not have a box for PAE.
Instead, refer to the Help & Support article "How to edit Boot.ini in
Windows XP".
This article describes a far better way to do the edits.
If I read these articles correctly, Windows XP uses the PAE kernel by
default, hence it need not be enabled.
To enable PAE, add /PAE to the last line of boot.ini.
To disable PAE, add /NOPAE to the last line of boot.ini

 

[Ronaldo]

To edit the Boot.ini file you need to access it through Control
Panel\System\Advanced\Startup & Recovery\Settings\Edit... you don't need to
remove the file read only attribute as the system allows edition through the
Control Panel.


A detailed description of the Data Execution Prevention (DEP) feature in
Windows XP Service Pack 2, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, and Windows
Server 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875352


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