Can't see the C: Drive from MS-Dos Prompt

[Gus Evans]

In trying to Repair XP Pro, I have to get out of Safe Mode
loop (correct boot.ini file). Created an MS-Dos Starup
Disk from another XP Pro system. On boot on PC in question
goes to A: prompt - type C: and get invalid device ???

 

[george]

your C; drive is likely to be using the NTFS file system, which
(unfortunately in this case) MS-DOS cannot access, heck, cannot even *see*,
hence the invalid device.
However, the good news is that you seem to have a second XP system
available.
This gives you the opportunity to circumvent the boot.ini fileon you
crippled system.
On the good system, format a floppy (*not* MS-DOS system disk, uncheck
that!!) and copy the files boot.ini, ntldr and ntdetect.com from the good
system onto the flop.
Using notepad you can adapt the boot.ini on the flop to reflect the namings
used on your *bad* system.
Possibly the setup on both systems is identical and then you don't have to
do anything.
You can now use the floppy to boot your bad system with, wich should enable
you to (notepad) edit the faulty boot.ini on that system.

hth

george

 

[Mike Kolitz]

That's because your hard drive is formatted with NTFS, which DOS can't deal
with.

If you need to fix you're BOOT.INI file, you might want to check out the
Recovery Console.

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/win2k_recoverycon.asp