B
Bob Harris
The next time you need to reload XP, first run a good disk
diagnostic program on the hard drive. Not CHKDSK or
Norton, but one of thoe low-level programs available as
free downloads from major disk makers. If the low-level
program discovers a problem with the disk, junk it.
Be sure to have the latest BIOS for your motherboard,
since some odd behavior can be fixed via a better BIOS.
Next, FDISK the hard drive, then FORMAT as FAT32 instead
of NTFS. If the drive is larger than 32 Gig, use FDISK to
make one 30 Gig partition, and the rest can be one or more
partitions. Install XP on the FAT32 partition.
Also install SP-1. This i most conveniently done form the
SP-1 CDROM, available from Microsoft for $10 (to cover
shipping and handling). However, if you have a fast
internet connection, you might try downloading it.
Before you get the error again, make a DOS boot disk.
Make a second disk with a copy of the foloowing files on
it: BOOT.INI, NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM.
If you need a really good bootdisk, with debugging/repair
routines, go to www.bootdisk.com. Their disk for win98SE
works well on my computer with XP.
Now, if you still get the error, instead of reloading XP,
try booting with the DOS floppy, then switching to the
other floppy and copy BOOT.INI back to C:\. Since C:\ is
FAT32, a simple DOS copy should work. However, be aware
that you might need to play with the attirbutes (DOS
command = ATTRIB) before you can see the file and/or copy
it.
Before going on the internet, except possibly to Microsoft
for updates, be sure to have good anti-virus software
installed. Some virus can cause weird behavior. FDISK
and FORMAT usually nulifies most of these. But, re-
infection is always a risk.
Good luck.
diagnostic program on the hard drive. Not CHKDSK or
Norton, but one of thoe low-level programs available as
free downloads from major disk makers. If the low-level
program discovers a problem with the disk, junk it.
Be sure to have the latest BIOS for your motherboard,
since some odd behavior can be fixed via a better BIOS.
Next, FDISK the hard drive, then FORMAT as FAT32 instead
of NTFS. If the drive is larger than 32 Gig, use FDISK to
make one 30 Gig partition, and the rest can be one or more
partitions. Install XP on the FAT32 partition.
Also install SP-1. This i most conveniently done form the
SP-1 CDROM, available from Microsoft for $10 (to cover
shipping and handling). However, if you have a fast
internet connection, you might try downloading it.
Before you get the error again, make a DOS boot disk.
Make a second disk with a copy of the foloowing files on
it: BOOT.INI, NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM.
If you need a really good bootdisk, with debugging/repair
routines, go to www.bootdisk.com. Their disk for win98SE
works well on my computer with XP.
Now, if you still get the error, instead of reloading XP,
try booting with the DOS floppy, then switching to the
other floppy and copy BOOT.INI back to C:\. Since C:\ is
FAT32, a simple DOS copy should work. However, be aware
that you might need to play with the attirbutes (DOS
command = ATTRIB) before you can see the file and/or copy
it.
Before going on the internet, except possibly to Microsoft
for updates, be sure to have good anti-virus software
installed. Some virus can cause weird behavior. FDISK
and FORMAT usually nulifies most of these. But, re-
infection is always a risk.
Good luck.