boot.ini - Renaming

[thricipio]

I know this is a bit of an odd question... but...

If I wanted to make an XP computer temporarily unusable by, say, *renaming*
<boot.ini>, could I subsequently (in order to restore its usability) gain
access to the renamed file by tapping on the (F8)-key during startup? Or,
would I have to do something more involved... like booting from a CD or
memory stick?

Thanks,
—Thri

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I know this is a bit of an odd question... but...

If I wanted to make an XP computer temporarily unusable by, say,
*renaming*
<boot.ini>, could I subsequently (in order to restore its usability) gain
access to the renamed file by tapping on the (F8)-key during startup? Or,
would I have to do something more involved... like booting from a CD or
memory stick?

Thanks,
-Thri

Renaming boot.ini will most likely keep the PC bootable - Windows
will use the default directory of C:\Windows. A more effective method
would be to have a boot.ini file like so:
[boot loader]
timeout=1
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional"
/fastdetect /noexecute=optin
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional"
/fastdetect /noexecute=optin

Windows will now attempt to boot of partition 2, which does not
exist, hence it won't load. To select partition 1 you have exactly
1 second, which is quite difficult to achieve. Note that neither
method will stop a determined person.

 

[thricipio]

Pegasus-

Thanks for the quick and useful reply.

Follow-on question...

If I do as you suggest, would I still be able to gain (a more "relaxed")
access to <boot.ini> by (as mentioned before) tapping on the (F8)-key during
startup?

Thanks again for the help.
—Thri

PS - regarding a determined person not being stopped by the measures we're
discussing... that's okay... the relevant party, though possibly determined,
would lack the skills to forge ahead... I think.


:
—————————————

 

[AJR]

These comments may or may not apply, however No boot.ini - no XP boot.
Windows may not permit renaming the file and it does create boot.ini
backups.

If the optional menu (F8) is available "The Last Known Good Configuration"
may work - more likely a boot from the XP CD and use of the Repair Console
would be in order.

BTW - the assumption is that any person attempting to boot the computer does
not "know" about F8!!

Anyway - please post back your results.

 

[thricipio]

I followed the suggestions from Pegasus. And yes, (F8) is still an option.
Pegasus is also correct, I'm sure: this little attempt at obfuscation
regarding the startup process would be easily circumvented by anyone with a
little techno-savvy. But for my purposes, this approach is more than
sufficient. I didn't test what would happen if I'd tried to just rename
<boot.ini> (as was my initial idea)—I take Pegasus' word: that XP would
manage to boot the system anyway, with an alternate version of <boot.ini> or
other files designed to accomplish the same objective.

I used a slightly modified version of the code provided by Pegasus. You can
view this alternate version here:
________________________________________________________
http://coppertop.dyndns.org/public/techstuff/helpme/boot.ini-alt.txt
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

:
———————

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

AFAIK you're still subject to boot.ini when tapping F8.

Pegasus-

Thanks for the quick and useful reply.

Follow-on question...

If I do as you suggest, would I still be able to gain (a more "relaxed")
access to <boot.ini> by (as mentioned before) tapping on the (F8)-key
during
startup?

Thanks again for the help.
-Thri

PS - regarding a determined person not being stopped by the measures we're
discussing... that's okay... the relevant party, though possibly
determined,
would lack the skills to forge ahead... I think.


:
-------------

Renaming boot.ini will most likely keep the PC bootable - Windows
will use the default directory of C:\Windows. A more effective method
would be to have a boot.ini file like so:
:
[snip]
:
Windows will now attempt to boot of partition 2, which does not
exist, hence it won't load. To select partition 1 you have exactly
1 second, which is quite difficult to achieve. Note that neither
method will stop a determined person.

 

[dadiOH]

I used a slightly modified version of the code provided by Pegasus.
You can view this alternate version here:
________________________________________________________
http://coppertop.dyndns.org/public/techstuff/helpme/boot.ini-alt.txt

Making it into a banner was a clever touch

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[thricipio]

Thanks, dadiOH. Perhaps this is a version of what magicians do: try to
redirect the audience's eyeballs away from the real action! ;-]