Boot.ini

G

Guest

I am reeiving a error a boot that states:
Invalid BOOT.INI
Booting from c:\windows

I am receiving this error even when trying to boot from XP Pro CD so I can
repair the installation or recover.

HELP!!!
 
S

Squire

If you are booting with the CD installed and it calls for Boot.ini,
You are not booting with the CD.
You have to boot into your BIOS by tapping the key it calls for on your
screen when you first start up, then looking in the screens and setting the
CD drive to boot before the hard drive does.
Install the XP CD and reboot, watching the screen closely to hit any key to
boot from the CD drive.
Go all the way through the Install screens until you pass the EULA agreement
and press the R key for Repair.
This will re-install XP, but you will not lose any programs already
installed.

Good Luck,
 
G

Guest

I have gone into the BIOS and established the CD as having 1st priority in my
boot from device order. I have also pressed any key when prompted to do so
from the system diag screen. I receive the message after the system attempts
to boot from CD.
 
S

Squire

This one is a head scratcher,
Go into your case and be sure all the cable connections are properly seated
on the hard drive.
They sometimes work loose from handling and from hot to cold.
Be sure to ground yourself to the case before touching anything inside.


--
Jerry

Murphy's Computer Law -
It works better if you plug it in.

Uncle John said:
I have gone into the BIOS and established the CD as having 1st priority in
my
boot from device order. I have also pressed any key when prompted to do so
from the system diag screen. I receive the message after the system
attempts
to boot from CD.
<Snip>
 
G

Guest

I think I have failed to point out one thing. My system does in fact boot,
but it states it is booting from c:\windows. Also, it does not show my
boot.ini tab in msconfig. Plugged IN
 
W

Wesley Vogel

Boot.ini tab is missing in MSCONFIG
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/bootini.htm

boot.ini is usually in C:\

See if you have one there...
Start | Run | Type or paste the following line:

C:\boot.ini

Click OK.

Does the boot.ini file open?

If not, boot.ini is missing

See if you have a file called boot.ini.backup in %windir%\pss. If you do,
copy it, change the name of the file to boot.ini and move it to C:

Type or paste: %windir%\pss into Start | Run


See also...
"Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows could not start" error messages when you
start your computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330184

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
G

Guest

Thank You I will try that when i get home.

Wesley Vogel said:
Boot.ini tab is missing in MSCONFIG
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/bootini.htm

boot.ini is usually in C:\

See if you have one there...
Start | Run | Type or paste the following line:

C:\boot.ini

Click OK.

Does the boot.ini file open?

If not, boot.ini is missing

See if you have a file called boot.ini.backup in %windir%\pss. If you do,
copy it, change the name of the file to boot.ini and move it to C:

Type or paste: %windir%\pss into Start | Run


See also...
"Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows could not start" error messages when you
start your computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330184

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
W

Wesley Vogel

Post back and let us know what you find. Good luck.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
G

Guest

There is no boot.ini located either location

Wesley Vogel said:
Post back and let us know what you find. Good luck.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
W

Wesley Vogel

John,

boot.ini is a HIDDEN file.

boot.ini.backup is what you were looking for in %windir%\pss.

Type: C:\Boot.ini into Start | Run and click OK.

What happens? Do you get an error message or does something open?

If there isn't one, see this on how to rebuild one...

"Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows could not start" error messages when you
start your computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330184


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
G

Guest

I did perform that action last night. We I replied to you, I had tried btoh
Run functions you advised me try, but it returned an error indicating the
file was not found. Furthermore, I tried booting from the CD, but it does
not boot from the cd. It appears that even though I can set my BIOS to boot
from CD first, it still b oots from c:\windows. So I cannot boot from the CD
to run bootcfg.
 
W

Wesley Vogel

I did perform that action last night. We I replied to you, I had tried
btoh Run functions you advised me try, but it returned an error
indicating the file was not found.

Then the boot.ini does not exist in C: and the pss folder does not exist.

1. Configure the computer to start from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. For
information about how to do this, see your computer documentation, or
contact your computer manufacturer.
2. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then
restart your computer.
3. When you receive the "Press any key to boot from CD" message, press a key
to start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM.

If you have done the above and it doesn't boot from the CD, you may not have
set the proper order for booting. Check it again.

"Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows could not start" error messages when you
start your computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330184


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
W

Wesley Vogel

So you have no boot.in file, see this on how to rebuild one...

"Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows could not start" error messages when you
start your computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330184

1. Configure the computer to start from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. For
information about how to do this, see your computer documentation, or
contact your computer manufacturer.
2. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, and then
restart your computer.
3. When you receive the "Press any key to boot from CD" message, press a key
to start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM.

If you have done the above and it doesn't boot from the CD, you may not have
set the proper order for booting. Check it again.


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
G

Guest

It all worked fine!!! I was having so much trouble because it appears that
when trying to boot from the CD my USB keyboard was not recognized
 

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