Errors w/Boot.ini

[Guest]

Hello,

I have been having difficulties with my boot.ini file recently. When I
initially turn on the computer, the message "invalid boot.ini" flashes
quickly. Also, although I have always been able to log on to XP, there in no
boot.ini tab in msconfig, and I am unable to locate or run the file.

I am aware there are methods or repairing the boot.ini file using the XP CD,
however, I do not have one -- Sony VAIO's are only sold with so-called
"recovery CD's" and when I run it, the only option I am presented with is a
complete restore (which, at the moment, is out of the question as I have too
much data to do so).

(1) What could have caused this problem; and (2) how would I be able to
resolve this issue without an XP CD? I'm baffled as to how this happened.

Thanks all,
-B

 

[Brian A]

The boot.ini is a hidden file and there are other ways to access it and its
contents.

Right click MyComputer.
Click Properties > Advanced tab > Startup and Recovery Settings button > System
Startup Edit button.

Make sure you make it visible.
Open either MyComputer or Explorer.
On the Menu bar click Tools > Folder Options.... > View tab.
Put a check in the box for "Display the contents of system folders".
Put a tic in "Show hidden files and folders".
Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".
Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files".
Click Apply > Ok.

The boot.ini should now be visible in C:\.

If you aren't sure if the contents are correct or not, copy/paste the contents and
post them in a response in this thread.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Brian

I have read several reports recently where Windows XP is installed in
a drive / partition other than C. In several cases the user has
reported that the boot.ini tab is missing. Perhaps the OP should
search My Computer for the boot.ini file with the first three Advanced
options checked if they cannot see the file in C:\.

I have been wondering whether these cases arise where the system has
or is dual booting or the user replaces a master hard drive holding
Windows XP? .Is there a registry setting controlling the display of
the boot.ini tab in the Msconfig utility which might be changed?

--

Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Brian A]

This compare is a before msconfig is open and after with the boot.ini tab selected.
----------------------------------
Values modified:2
----------------------------------
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography\RNG\Seed: DB D8 AD E6 92 94 2F 70
8D 5C 32 02 E5 36 84 AC 7C F3 94 C5 F2 01 5F C2 A5 EA B9 B8 44 DB C1 72 9F 5C 0A CC
87 BD A1 7A 8E 6B 1D 79 1B FC 23 3C 37 27 6F E9 16 E3 CC 54 BA F4 B2 8F 5B 9C 23 68
66 9A 8F DF 30 53 9F BA 66 FE 49 72 1B 79 6B BA
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography\RNG\Seed: B3 44 6C DA 08 14 4D FB
C6 3E 6E B5 AF DB 28 8C 2E 5E 36 37 B8 34 EA C0 D9 B6 F6 BB 1A A7 F1 D3 60 0B FC A1
DB 64 F2 50 8A 9F AE 95 D2 B1 D4 64 30 10 E1 A6 B7 C9 09 E0 1E 85 29 FB D6 C1 BB 0F
86 B9 D4 30 1F DC F8 E6 CD E7 6C E3 24 03 23 3E

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-682003330-1409082233-725345543-1003\SessionInformation\ProgramCount:
0x00000004
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-682003330-1409082233-725345543-1003\SessionInformation\ProgramCount:
0x00000005

----------------------------------
Files [attributes?] modified:2
----------------------------------
C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch\MSCONFIG.EXE-043A3E06.pf
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\software.LOG

----------------------------------
Total changes:4
----------------------------------


I get no changes with it open and comparing between two different tabs being
selected.

----------------------------------
Total changes:0
----------------------------------

This is with the startup tab selected and then msconfig closed.
----------------------------------
Values modified:1
----------------------------------
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-682003330-1409082233-725345543-1003\SessionInformation\ProgramCount:
0x00000005
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-682003330-1409082233-725345543-1003\SessionInformation\ProgramCount:
0x00000004

----------------------------------
Total changes:1
----------------------------------

Doesn't look promising.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Guest]

Hi Brian,

First, I did what you said regarding the file folder options and making the
hidden system files visible. After doing that, I opened up my computer and
viewed the contents of the C:\ directory but there was no boot.ini located
there.

Next, I attempted to view the boot.ini file via the Startup and Recovery
Settings/System Startup Edit button and received the following message:
"The C:\boot.ini file cannot be opened. Operating System and Timeout
settings can not be changed."

One other thing. I rebooted the system to check on the initial message and
noted something I had forgotten in my original message. The error message
continues to read "invalid boot.ini" but it also says on the next line:
"Booting to C:\windows" (I believe that's the correct verbage).

What gives? It's starting to make me feel that my system has been
compromised in some way, but all virus/adware/spyware scans show no problems.
I don't know if this is of any note, but I'll mention it anyway: When you
awaken the system from standby, the password screen usually looks like the
initial screen that appears when you first boot the system. After two
standbys, my password screen changes to something that looks like it's from
an earlier version of Windows, namely Windows 98 or one of it predecessors.

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[Guest]

Hello again,

I found something via Google that sounds like my situation. Here's the link
if you'd like to check it out:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1026026287

Thanks again,
-B

 

[Brian A]

Go here and follow the steps.
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/bootini.htm

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Brian

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\state

This Registry Key should have value 2 as
Name: boot.ini
Type: Reg_DWORD
Data 0x0 (appears as longer version viewed using regedit).

My system has values 1 to 5 but where a tab is missing in the msconfig
utility the corresponding value is missing in the registry. I have not
seen this on a machine but this is what I deduce from reading reports
in Google. I did wonder what would happen if you replaced the
defective key with another. I do not have the facilities to test.
Permissions might be an issue.



--

Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This compare is a before msconfig is open and after with the
boot.ini tab selected. ----------------------------------
Values modified:2
----------------------------------
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography\RNG\Seed: DB D8
AD
E6 92 94 2F 70 8D 5C 32 02 E5 36 84 AC 7C F3 94 C5 F2 01 5F C2 A5 EA
B9 B8 44 DB C1 72 9F 5C 0A CC 87 BD A1 7A 8E 6B 1D 79 1B FC 23 3C 37
27 6F E9 16 E3 CC 54 BA F4 B2 8F 5B 9C 23 68 66 9A 8F DF 30 53 9F BA
66 FE 49 72 1B 79 6B BA
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Cryptography\RNG\Seed: B3 44
6C
DA 08 14 4D FB C6 3E 6E B5 AF DB 28 8C 2E 5E 36 37 B8 34 EA C0 D9 B6
F6 BB 1A A7 F1 D3 60 0B FC A1 DB 64 F2 50 8A 9F AE 95 D2 B1 D4 64 30
10 E1 A6 B7 C9 09 E0 1E 85 29 FB D6 C1 BB 0F 86 B9 D4 30 1F DC F8 E6
CD E7 6C E3 24 03 23 3E
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-682003330-1409082233-725345543-1003\SessionInformation\ProgramCount:
0x00000004
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-682003330-1409082233-725345543-1003\SessionInformation\ProgramCount:
0x00000005

----------------------------------
Files [attributes?] modified:2
----------------------------------
C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch\MSCONFIG.EXE-043A3E06.pf
C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\software.LOG

----------------------------------
Total changes:4
----------------------------------


I get no changes with it open and comparing between two different
tabs being selected.

----------------------------------
Total changes:0
----------------------------------

This is with the startup tab selected and then msconfig closed.
----------------------------------
Values modified:1
----------------------------------
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-682003330-1409082233-725345543-1003\SessionInformation\ProgramCount:
0x00000005
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-682003330-1409082233-725345543-1003\SessionInformation\ProgramCount:
0x00000004

----------------------------------
Total changes:1
----------------------------------

Doesn't look promising.

Brian

I have read several reports recently where Windows XP is installed
in a drive / partition other than C. In several cases the user has
reported that the boot.ini tab is missing. Perhaps the OP should
search My Computer for the boot.ini file with the first three
Advanced options checked if they cannot see the file in C:\. I have
been wondering whether these cases arise where the system has
or is dual booting or the user replaces a master hard drive holding
Windows XP? .Is there a registry setting controlling the display of
the boot.ini tab in the Msconfig utility which might be changed?

--

Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi Gerry,

You're correct. MSCONFIG expects a boot.ini file in the C drive, irrespective of the system drive letter assigned.

I don't think there is any. *Looks* like it's hardcoded for C drive.

I'll have to add this info to my article shortly.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Brian

I have read several reports recently where Windows XP is installed in
a drive / partition other than C. In several cases the user has
reported that the boot.ini tab is missing. Perhaps the OP should
search My Computer for the boot.ini file with the first three Advanced
options checked if they cannot see the file in C:\.

I have been wondering whether these cases arise where the system has
or is dual booting or the user replaces a master hard drive holding
Windows XP? .Is there a registry setting controlling the display of
the boot.ini tab in the Msconfig utility which might be changed?

--

Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Boot.ini can be rebuilt using the Bootcfg command-line.

See:

A discussion about the Bootcfg command and its uses:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291980

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi Brian,

First, I did what you said regarding the file folder options and making the
hidden system files visible. After doing that, I opened up my computer and
viewed the contents of the C:\ directory but there was no boot.ini located
there.

Next, I attempted to view the boot.ini file via the Startup and Recovery
Settings/System Startup Edit button and received the following message:
"The C:\boot.ini file cannot be opened. Operating System and Timeout
settings can not be changed."

One other thing. I rebooted the system to check on the initial message and
noted something I had forgotten in my original message. The error message
continues to read "invalid boot.ini" but it also says on the next line:
"Booting to C:\windows" (I believe that's the correct verbage).

What gives? It's starting to make me feel that my system has been
compromised in some way, but all virus/adware/spyware scans show no problems.
I don't know if this is of any note, but I'll mention it anyway: When you
awaken the system from standby, the password screen usually looks like the
initial screen that appears when you first boot the system. After two
standbys, my password screen changes to something that looks like it's from
an earlier version of Windows, namely Windows 98 or one of it predecessors.

Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Ramesh

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\state

This Registry Key should have value 2 as
Name: boot.ini
Type: Reg_DWORD
Data 0x0 (appears as longer version viewed using regedit).

My system has values 1 to 5 but where a tab is missing in the msconfig
utility the corresponding value is missing in the registry. I have not
seen this on a machine but this is what I deduce from reading reports
in Google. I did wonder what would happen if you replaced the
defective key with another. I do not have the facilities to test.
Permissions might be an issue.



--

Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi Gerry,

You're correct. MSCONFIG expects a boot.ini file in the C drive,
irrespective of the system drive letter assigned.

I don't think there is any. *Looks* like it's hardcoded for C drive.

I'll have to add this info to my article shortly.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Brian

I have read several reports recently where Windows XP is installed
in
a drive / partition other than C. In several cases the user has
reported that the boot.ini tab is missing. Perhaps the OP should
search My Computer for the boot.ini file with the first three
Advanced
options checked if they cannot see the file in C:\.

I have been wondering whether these cases arise where the system has
or is dual booting or the user replaces a master hard drive holding
Windows XP? .Is there a registry setting controlling the display of
the boot.ini tab in the Msconfig utility which might be changed?