boot.ini

B

badgolferman

How do I edit this boot.ini file to prevent bootup from asking me which
OS installation to load? Do I put semicolons at the beginning of the
lines for #1 and #2?

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (#1)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (#2)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
 
N

Nepatsfan

Try changing the timeout setting to 0. You can do this in System
Properties -> Advanced -> Startup and Recovery Options.
 
R

Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers

Hi,

The first question would have to be which of the three installations listed
do you want to retain?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
N

Nepatsfan

First off, you've given no indication whatsoever about the status
of the last two installations listed in your boot.ini file. If
they are valid installations located on other hard drives then
you simply set the timeout to 0 as I suggested earlier. Your PC
will now automatically boot into the windows installation located
on your primary hard drive.

If those installations no longer exist, run msconfig and click on
the BOOT.INI tab. Click on the "Check All Boot Paths" button. You
will be asked if you want to remove those installations from your
boot.ini file. Click Yes. Click OK. Click Restart.

Keep in mind that there is no way to alter your boot.ini file so
that lines are ignored. If for some reason you want to retain
this copy of boot.ini for future use then open it in notepad and
go to File -> Save as and rename it (e.g. boot.old). When you
want to reuse it, save your current boot.ini file and rename
boot.old to boot.ini.
 
B

badgolferman

Nepatsfan said:
First off, you've given no indication whatsoever about the status
of the last two installations listed in your boot.ini file. If
they are valid installations located on other hard drives then
you simply set the timeout to 0 as I suggested earlier. Your PC
will now automatically boot into the windows installation located
on your primary hard drive.

If those installations no longer exist, run msconfig and click on
the BOOT.INI tab. Click on the "Check All Boot Paths" button. You
will be asked if you want to remove those installations from your
boot.ini file. Click Yes. Click OK. Click Restart.

Keep in mind that there is no way to alter your boot.ini file so
that lines are ignored. If for some reason you want to retain
this copy of boot.ini for future use then open it in notepad and
go to File -> Save as and rename it (e.g. boot.old). When you
want to reuse it, save your current boot.ini file and rename
boot.old to boot.ini.
Click to expand...

Thank you. The "Check all boot paths" option has corrected it.
 
R

Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers

Hi,

Right click boot.ini, select properties. Uncheck the read-only attribute,
then close. Now open it in notepad, remove the last two lines. Then close it
saving changes and reset the read-only attribute.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
C

cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)

How do I edit this boot.ini file to prevent bootup from asking me which
OS installation to load? Do I put semicolons at the beginning of the
lines for #1 and #2?
Click to expand...

You can't ; comment out that section; behavior will be undefined, as
the item will be processed anyway. You can ;comment in other
sections, e.g. I'd do this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
; multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (#1)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
; multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (#2)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin


---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
Click to expand...
Gone to bloggery: http://cquirke.blogspot.com
 
K

Kelly

How do I edit this boot.ini file to prevent bootup from asking me which
OS installation to load? Do I put semicolons at the beginning of the
lines for #1 and #2?
Click to expand...


Options:

Go to Start/Run and type in: msconfig
Then go to the Boot.ini Tab and click on Check All Boot Paths. If you
receive a warning about a duplicate path: Do you want to remove, choose
yes.

Or...

Right click the My Computer icon/Properties/Advanced/Startup and
Recovery/Settings/System Startup/Edit.

How to Edit the BOOT.INI File in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q289/0/22.asp

Added info by M. Stevens:

I have two installations of XP on the same partition, how do I remove the
one I don't need?

Boot to the desired version of Windows XP you want to keep. Making note of
the position in the boot menu. This will be important when you edit
boot.ini.

Open a command prompt * and type " echo %windir%" without the quotes. This
will give you the current Windows folder you are using.

From Explorer, delete the folder containing the installation you want to
remove. The original install folder is usually called Windows and subsequent
folders will be derivatives of Windows or Winnt.

From System Properties [Winkey+Pause/Break] > Advanced Tab > Statup and
Recovery > Settings > Edit.

Select the Edit button and from notepad, first backup boot.ini, by going to
File; Save As and rename boot.ini. to something like boot.inibak.

Remove the line referencing the installation not chosen; you made note of in
step one.
Set timeout=0 so the system boots directly into Win XP (you will not get the
boot menu).
Save As boot.ini & Exit.

Reboot.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com


cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user) said:
How do I edit this boot.ini file to prevent bootup from asking me which
OS installation to load? Do I put semicolons at the beginning of the
lines for #1 and #2?
Click to expand...

You can't ; comment out that section; behavior will be undefined, as
the item will be processed anyway. You can ;comment in other
sections, e.g. I'd do this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
; multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (#1)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
; multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (#2)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin


---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
Click to expand...
Gone to bloggery: http://cquirke.blogspot.com
---------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 

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