"Invalid Boot.ini File"

[winXP]

I have an XP Home system with 1 disk. Windows is on an NTFS partition
and a D: FAT32 logical partition. There's also a Primary partition with
a "DELLUTILITY", FAT, 31MB Primary.

Due to a virus on the system I reloaded my Windows partition from a
GHOST backup made in January. However on bootup, I get the error:
Invalid Boot.ini file
Booting from c:\windows
NTDETECT Failed
and it reboots again and again...

I read about using Windows XP Recovery Console to fix this error,
however, I can't get to it for a couple of days.

Will this pretty much fix my problem or could there be another problem?
I'm concerned because I restored from my January backup which
was running fine.

Any insights would be appreciated.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Sure sounds like the boot sector is munged, using fixboot from the recovery
console will do the trick. You should also be able to do that from the
6-floppy boot set made from the links below if you can't get your hands on a
regular WinXP CD at the moment - it's slower, but at least you won't need to
wait days (well, hopefully):

Home edition:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=33290

Professional edition:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=33291

--
Best of Luck,

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

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[winXP]

Hi Rick,

The information that I read on the webpages indicate that it
"allows computers without a bootable CD-ROM perform
a new installation of the operating system". It doesn't
make mention of "Recovery Console".

I don't have a problem booting from the CD-ROM. I just
don't have access to my Windows XP CD right now. Is
this "fixboot" on the floppies that's generated?

Thanks!

 

[Mike]

If you had a manual or any printed material supplied with your computer, now
would be a good time to read it..

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Yes, it is (checked my own set before posting it). Loading the boot floppy
set installs a recovery console with limited function.

--
Best of Luck,

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

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[winXP]

Hi again....

Sorry to ask, but I'm cautious by nature...

I am running "Recovery Console" and was put into the NTFS
C:\Windows partition. I noticed that there is no BOOT.INI
in C:\Windows, which I'm guessing is my problem.

I found a Microsoft KB article about using "bootcfg /rebuild"
to fix the BOOT.ini file. "fixboot" seems to be to generate
a "bootsector" (mbr?). Are bootcfg & fixboot the same?

If not, can I manually create a boot.ini? How about:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows
[operating systems]
scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows="Windows XP" /NODEBUG c:\ = "TEST"

Or should "partition(2)" be used with my configuration
(as reported by Partition Magic 8) (Windows is on NTFS partition):

Partition Type Size MB Used MB Unused MB Status Pri/Log
DELLUTILITY (*) FAT 31.3 1.4 29.9 None Primary
Local Disk (C NTFS 11,593.8 7,367.5 4,226.3 Active Primary
(*) Extended 16,990.6 16,990.6 0.0 None Primary
Local Disk (D FAT32 16,990.6 3,382.7 13,607.9 None Logical


Thank you!

 

[winXP]

Further Info...
I found c:\boot.ini and it contains:
[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 Home Edition" /fastdetect

hmmm....

Hi again....

Sorry to ask, but I'm cautious by nature...

I am running "Recovery Console" and was put into the NTFS
C:\Windows partition. I noticed that there is no BOOT.INI
in C:\Windows, which I'm guessing is my problem.

I found a Microsoft KB article about using "bootcfg /rebuild"
to fix the BOOT.ini file. "fixboot" seems to be to generate
a "bootsector" (mbr?). Are bootcfg & fixboot the same?

If not, can I manually create a boot.ini? How about:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows
[operating systems]
scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows="Windows XP" /NODEBUG c:\ = "TEST"

Or should "partition(2)" be used with my configuration
(as reported by Partition Magic 8) (Windows is on NTFS partition):

Partition Type Size MB Used MB Unused MB Status Pri/Log
DELLUTILITY (*) FAT 31.3 1.4 29.9 None Primary
Local Disk (C NTFS 11,593.8 7,367.5 4,226.3 Active Primary
(*) Extended 16,990.6 16,990.6 0.0 None Primary
Local Disk (D FAT32 16,990.6 3,382.7 13,607.9 None Logical

Thank you!

Hi,

Yes, it is (checked my own set before posting it). Loading the boot floppy
set installs a recovery console with limited function.

--
Best of Luck,

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

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[winXP]

More info...
I ran "fixboot c:" but it did not fix the problem...
I'm stumped...

Any futher thoughts?

Further Info...
I found c:\boot.ini and it contains:
[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 Home Edition" /fastdetect

hmmm....

Hi again....

Sorry to ask, but I'm cautious by nature...

I am running "Recovery Console" and was put into the NTFS
C:\Windows partition. I noticed that there is no BOOT.INI
in C:\Windows, which I'm guessing is my problem.

I found a Microsoft KB article about using "bootcfg /rebuild"
to fix the BOOT.ini file. "fixboot" seems to be to generate
a "bootsector" (mbr?). Are bootcfg & fixboot the same?

If not, can I manually create a boot.ini? How about:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows
[operating systems]
scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows="Windows XP" /NODEBUG c:\ = "TEST"

Or should "partition(2)" be used with my configuration
(as reported by Partition Magic 8) (Windows is on NTFS partition):

Partition Type Size MB Used MB Unused MB Status Pri/Log
DELLUTILITY (*) FAT 31.3 1.4 29.9 None Primary
Local Disk (C NTFS 11,593.8 7,367.5 4,226.3 Active Primary
(*) Extended 16,990.6 16,990.6 0.0 None Primary
Local Disk (D FAT32 16,990.6 3,382.7 13,607.9 None Logical

Thank you!

Hi,

Yes, it is (checked my own set before posting it). Loading the boot floppy
set installs a recovery console with limited function.

--
Best of Luck,

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

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone



Hi Rick,

The information that I read on the webpages indicate that it
"allows computers without a bootable CD-ROM perform
a new installation of the operating system". It doesn't
make mention of "Recovery Console".

I don't have a problem booting from the CD-ROM. I just
don't have access to my Windows XP CD right now. Is
this "fixboot" on the floppies that's generated?

Thanks!



Rick \"Nutcase\" Rogers wrote:

Hi,

Sure sounds like the boot sector is munged, using fixboot from the
recovery
console will do the trick. You should also be able to do that from the
6-floppy boot set made from the links below if you can't get your hands
on a
regular WinXP CD at the moment - it's slower, but at least you won't need
to
wait days (well, hopefully):

Home edition:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=33290

Professional edition:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=33291

--
Best of Luck,

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

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone



I have an XP Home system with 1 disk. Windows is on an NTFS partition
and a D: FAT32 logical partition. There's also a Primary partition
with
a "DELLUTILITY", FAT, 31MB Primary.

Due to a virus on the system I reloaded my Windows partition from a
GHOST backup made in January. However on bootup, I get the error:
Invalid Boot.ini file
Booting from c:\windows
NTDETECT Failed
and it reboots again and again...

I read about using Windows XP Recovery Console to fix this error,
however, I can't get to it for a couple of days.

Will this pretty much fix my problem or could there be another problem?
I'm concerned because I restored from my January backup which
was running fine.

Any insights would be appreciated.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

If it's the first partition, both those (2)'s should be (1)'s.

No, bootcfg and fixboot perform different functions. Try rebuilding, use
bootcfg /rebuild.

--
Best of Luck,

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

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

Further Info...
I found c:\boot.ini and it contains:
[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 Home
Edition" /fastdetect

hmmm....

Hi again....

Sorry to ask, but I'm cautious by nature...

I am running "Recovery Console" and was put into the NTFS
C:\Windows partition. I noticed that there is no BOOT.INI
in C:\Windows, which I'm guessing is my problem.

I found a Microsoft KB article about using "bootcfg /rebuild"
to fix the BOOT.ini file. "fixboot" seems to be to generate
a "bootsector" (mbr?). Are bootcfg & fixboot the same?

If not, can I manually create a boot.ini? How about:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows
[operating systems]
scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows="Windows XP" /NODEBUG c:\
= "TEST"

Or should "partition(2)" be used with my configuration
(as reported by Partition Magic 8) (Windows is on NTFS partition):

Partition Type Size MB Used MB Unused MB Status Pri/Log
DELLUTILITY (*) FAT 31.3 1.4 29.9 None Primary
Local Disk (C NTFS 11,593.8 7,367.5 4,226.3 Active Primary
(*) Extended 16,990.6 16,990.6 0.0 None Primary
Local Disk (D FAT32 16,990.6 3,382.7 13,607.9 None Logical

Thank you!

Hi,

Yes, it is (checked my own set before posting it). Loading the boot
floppy
set installs a recovery console with limited function.

--
Best of Luck,

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

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone



Hi Rick,

The information that I read on the webpages indicate that it
"allows computers without a bootable CD-ROM perform
a new installation of the operating system". It doesn't
make mention of "Recovery Console".

I don't have a problem booting from the CD-ROM. I just
don't have access to my Windows XP CD right now. Is
this "fixboot" on the floppies that's generated?

Thanks!



Rick \"Nutcase\" Rogers wrote:

Hi,

Sure sounds like the boot sector is munged, using fixboot from the
recovery
console will do the trick. You should also be able to do that from
the
6-floppy boot set made from the links below if you can't get your
hands
on a
regular WinXP CD at the moment - it's slower, but at least you won't
need
to
wait days (well, hopefully):

Home edition:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=33290

Professional edition:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=33291

--
Best of Luck,

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

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone



I have an XP Home system with 1 disk. Windows is on an NTFS
partition
and a D: FAT32 logical partition. There's also a Primary
partition
with
a "DELLUTILITY", FAT, 31MB Primary.

Due to a virus on the system I reloaded my Windows partition from
a
GHOST backup made in January. However on bootup, I get the error:
Invalid Boot.ini file
Booting from c:\windows
NTDETECT Failed
and it reboots again and again...

I read about using Windows XP Recovery Console to fix this error,
however, I can't get to it for a couple of days.

Will this pretty much fix my problem or could there be another
problem?
I'm concerned because I restored from my January backup which
was running fine.

Any insights would be appreciated.




--