editing boot.ini

[Guest]

I need to delete 2 options when booting Windows XP. I
know can format the disk and start over. I'm trying to
avoid that.
I have 5GB of programs and data on this disk. I started
this by using CMS EasyMove DELL-XKIT to transfer files
and operating system to a new hard drive on my Dell
laptop (the EasyMove cable and new hard drive is
connected to the PCMCIA slot while you transfer data from
your old hard drive). In "theory" you transfer all your
files and then when done just switch the two hard
drives. Well.... it didn't work. It gave me a corrupt
file error on boot. After trying the obvious stuff (like
just copying the "corrupt" file from the good drive to
the new drive), I contacted their tech support which had
me install a Windows98 diskette and transfer the
operating system (Microsoft knowledge base article
320252). This also didn't work. Finally (after
an hour on the phone)they had me install the operating
system again from the XP disk and then connect the hard
drive back to the PCMCIA port (using the old hard drive
to run the computer) and retransfer the files and
programs using the CMS EasyMove software. This worked
and all the files and settings were successfully
transferred. However, I still show the other two boots
on startup (the one that had the corrupt file error and
the one they had me load from the Windows98 disk). I do
NOT have complete duplicate sets of Windows system
files. They were overwritten (so it isn't a problem of
cleaning up the old files to regain space). However,
something told the operating system that there were now
multiple boots (maybe the boot.ini file). The following
is my existing boot.ini file which shows the three boot
options.

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft
Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft
Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
C:\ = "Microsoft Windows


Is there a problem editing this file? Has anyone had
experience with this? Will this solve the problem or is
there a better way (short of reformatting the disk)?

 

[Plato]

Is there a problem editing this file? Has anyone had
experience with this? Will this solve the problem or is
there a better way (short of reformatting the disk)?

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314081
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=289022

 

[Cameron]

Thanks.... I got the articles and edited the boot.ini
file and I'm back in business. I appreciate your help.

 

[Plato]

Thanks.... I got the articles and edited the boot.ini
file and I'm back in business. I appreciate your help.

Thank Bill Gates [grin]

 

[Alex Nichol]

Control Panel - System - Advanced, and in Startup and Error click
Settings, then click Edit.

that will load boot.ini into Notepad for editing

Presuming it loads correctly if you just wait the 30 second timeout
(which you might usefully reduce anyway to say 5), then Keep

boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft
Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

which matches the default line above, and delete

 

[Guest]

I am running a dual boot system, Win98 and WinXP. The problem that I am having is that if I hit f8 to go to safe mode for my Win 98 it takes me right straight to Win98. Also when I try to go to MSDOS when shuting down Win98 it takes me right back to my choice of Win98 or WinXP. Is there a way to edit the boot.ini file to do both. By that I mean give me four choices instead of the Win98 and WinXP.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

You should hit F8 *after* selecting WinXP from the boot menu to access WinXP
in Safe mode. Either that or before shutting down, start/run msconfig, go to
the boot.ini tab and select the /safeboot option. You will need to reverse
this after working in safe mode to access normal mode again. For
Win98/MS-DOS, depress and hold the <ctrl> key after selecting Win98 from the
menu to get the boot options.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

I am running a dual boot system, Win98 and WinXP. The problem that I am

having is that if I hit f8 to go to safe mode for my Win 98 it takes me
right straight to Win98. Also when I try to go to MSDOS when shuting down
Win98 it takes me right back to my choice of Win98 or WinXP. Is there a way
to edit the boot.ini file to do both. By that I mean give me four choices
instead of the Win98 and WinXP.

 

[Guest]

I tried once to send this so it will try it again. Thanks Rick for reminding an old farmer like
me. I tried the <crtl> key but that halted everthing and then I remembered on this particular
computer that it is the<shift> key that works like you said. So Thanks to You I am a
happy camper again. As I tried to state in the other one I never had a problem gettin t
WinXP SafeMode. Thanks Again Rick!!!

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am running a dual boot system, Win98 and WinXP. The problem that I am having is that if I hit f8 to go to safe mode for my Win 98 it takes me right straight to Win98. Also when I try to go to MSDOS when shuting down Win98 it takes me right back to my choice of Win98 or WinXP. Is there a way to edit the boot.ini file to do both. By that I mean give me four choices instead of the Win98 and WinXP.

The boot.ini menu comes in right at the start, to choose the system.
Options like Safe Mode come after that, so you need to select Win98, hit
Enter and then immediately hit F8 (again, maybe) to get the Win98 bootup
menu. Or edit its hidden MSDOS.SYS to insert a

BootMenu=1

line in the [Options]
section, which will bring that menu up every time