Boot.ini is missing but still able to boot correctly

[Ben Kwatta]

As far as I know boot.ini, ntldr and ntdetect.com are vital for XP to boot
correctly. A few days ago I was working on a computer, during the boot
process I noticed a message stating "invalid entry in boot.ini". I decided
to check it out but there was no boot.ini !!
ntldr and ntdetect.com are present. My Question is there a way that ntldr
can bypass the boot.ini file ???

Rik

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

"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

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

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

:

| As far as I know boot.ini, ntldr and ntdetect.com are vital for XP to boot
| correctly. A few days ago I was working on a computer, during the boot
| process I noticed a message stating "invalid entry in boot.ini". I decided
| to check it out but there was no boot.ini !!
| ntldr and ntdetect.com are present. My Question is there a way that ntldr
| can bypass the boot.ini file ???
|
| Rik

 

[CWatters]

As far as I know boot.ini, ntldr and ntdetect.com are vital for XP to boot
correctly. A few days ago I was working on a computer, during the boot
process I noticed a message stating "invalid entry in boot.ini". I decided
to check it out but there was no boot.ini !!

I believe it's a hidden file.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/hiddenfiles.mspx

 

[Donald McDaniel]

As far as I know boot.ini, ntldr and ntdetect.com are vital for XP to boot
correctly. A few days ago I was working on a computer, during the boot
process I noticed a message stating "invalid entry in boot.ini". I decided
to check it out but there was no boot.ini !!
ntldr and ntdetect.com are present. My Question is there a way that ntldr
can bypass the boot.ini file ???

Rik

To see "boot.ini", Folder View settings must be set to enable viewing
hidden and system folders.

Also, perhaps you are looking in the wrong place. "boot.ini" will be
found in "C:\" if you have multi-booted with other versions of
Windows.

Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original thread
so that conversations may be kept in order
=======================================================

 

[Ben Kwatta]

Hide system files is UNchecked.......Like I said...ntldr and Ntdetect.com
are there...in the root of C:\.....
Rik

 

[Donald McDaniel]

Hide system files is UNchecked.......Like I said...ntldr and Ntdetect.com
are there...in the root of C:\.....
Rik

Have you done a THOROUGH search of your HD for boot.ini?
Also, which bootloader are you using? XP's, or an other one.
Are you SURE you are using XP's boot loader?

As far as I know, XP will not boot if boot.ini is missing, since
boot.ini tells the bootloader WHERE to find your installation of
XP.

Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original thread
so that conversations may be kept in order
=======================================================

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

Hide system files is UNchecked.......Like I said...ntldr and Ntdetect.com
are there...in the root of C:\.....

It may be that NTLDR will "guess" the default path if it finds no
Boot.ini; I seem to remember similar mileage with Win9x when no
Winboot.ini nor MSDOS.sys were present.

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

Forget http://cquirke.blogspot.com and check out a
better one at http://topicdrift.blogspot.com instead!

 

[Wesley Vogel]

boot.ini should be in C:\

Start | Run | Paste this in the box:

%homedrive%\boot.ini

Click OK.
boot.ini should open.
-----

See if you have a boot.ini.backup in C:\WINDOWS\pss

Start | Run | Paste this in the box:

%windir%\pss\boot.ini.backup

Click OK.
If there is one, boot.ini.backup should open.

If you cannot find boot.ini and you do find boot.ini.backup. Copy
boot.ini.backup and rename the copy boot.ini and move it to C:
-----

Another way to get to the boot.ini....
Open System Properties
Start | Run | Paste this in the box:

control Sysdm.cpl,System,3

Click OK | Click the Settings button under Startup and Recovery |
Click the Edit buton

Clicking the Edit button opens %homedrive%\boot.ini

HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302347

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Ron Sommer]

There have been a few posts to this newsgroup saying that XP booted with a
incorrect or missing boot.ini.