invalid boot.ini loading from c:\windows

[fc42]

When turning on my XP Home System this evening, I saw the following message:

invalid boot.ini
loading from c:\windows

After that the computer proceeded to boot normally, but I did a Google
search and found a couple of old threads that suggested that some people
with this message got to the point where they couldn't boot up the computer
at all, so that really made me nervous.

I found a couple of directions that involved editing or recreating the
boot.ini file by going to

computer/properties/advanced/startup&recovery/settings

I went there and got the message that I have no boot.ini file and was given
the option of creating a new one in Notepad. The problem is, all the
examples I found were for Windows XP Pro and actually named the program in
the text. For example:

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

Since I only have XP Home instead of Pro, I don't know if anything besides
the program name has to be changed.

I found this page on Microsoft:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330184, but frankly
those directions scared me even more. (Yes, I am a coward.) I don't know
how to refigure my computer to boot from a disk
and the phrase "The instructions that appear on your screen may be
different, depending on the configuration of your computer." doesn't exact
fill me with self-confidence.

Can anyone give me the correct text for the boot.ini file for XP Home or
explain the fix in simple terms, as to a little child? Thank you very much
in advance.

 

[peterk]

Change the line to read "Microsoft windows XP Home edition" /fast detect
safe the file..........to the root of your C drive
click start/run
type in msconfig
hit the Boot.ini tab
the file should show up
hit the "check all boot paths" tab.........XP will then verify that you have
the correct locations listed.
if all is OK reboot
peterk

 

[fc42]

I'm back - as close to normal as I ever get! Thank you so much for your
help. I can sleep tonight after all!

fc42
Just a hitchhiker on the information super highway

Change the line to read "Microsoft windows XP Home edition" /fast detect
safe the file..........to the root of your C drive
click start/run
type in msconfig
hit the Boot.ini tab
the file should show up
hit the "check all boot paths" tab.........XP will then verify that you
have the correct locations listed.
if all is OK reboot
peterk




--
It's so much easier to suggest solutions when you don't know too much
about the problem

When turning on my XP Home System this evening, I saw the following
message:

invalid boot.ini
loading from c:\windows

After that the computer proceeded to boot normally, but I did a Google
search and found a couple of old threads that suggested that some people
with this message got to the point where they couldn't boot up the
computer at all, so that really made me nervous.

I found a couple of directions that involved editing or recreating the
boot.ini file by going to

computer/properties/advanced/startup&recovery/settings

I went there and got the message that I have no boot.ini file and was
given the option of creating a new one in Notepad. The problem is, all
the examples I found were for Windows XP Pro and actually named the
program in the text. For example:

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

Since I only have XP Home instead of Pro, I don't know if anything
besides the program name has to be changed.

I found this page on Microsoft:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330184, but
frankly those directions scared me even more. (Yes, I am a coward.) I
don't know how to refigure my computer to boot from a disk
and the phrase "The instructions that appear on your screen may be
different, depending on the configuration of your computer." doesn't
exact fill me with self-confidence.

Can anyone give me the correct text for the boot.ini file for XP Home or
explain the fix in simple terms, as to a little child? Thank you very
much in advance.

 

[peterk]

Your welcome
peterk

--
It's so much easier to suggest solutions when you don't know too much about
the problem

I'm back - as close to normal as I ever get! Thank you so much for your
help. I can sleep tonight after all!

fc42
Just a hitchhiker on the information super highway

Change the line to read "Microsoft windows XP Home edition" /fast detect
safe the file..........to the root of your C drive
click start/run
type in msconfig
hit the Boot.ini tab
the file should show up
hit the "check all boot paths" tab.........XP will then verify that you
have the correct locations listed.
if all is OK reboot
peterk




--
It's so much easier to suggest solutions when you don't know too much
about the problem

When turning on my XP Home System this evening, I saw the following
message:

invalid boot.ini
loading from c:\windows

After that the computer proceeded to boot normally, but I did a Google
search and found a couple of old threads that suggested that some people
with this message got to the point where they couldn't boot up the
computer at all, so that really made me nervous.

I found a couple of directions that involved editing or recreating the
boot.ini file by going to

computer/properties/advanced/startup&recovery/settings

I went there and got the message that I have no boot.ini file and was
given the option of creating a new one in Notepad. The problem is, all
the examples I found were for Windows XP Pro and actually named the
program in the text. For example:

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

Since I only have XP Home instead of Pro, I don't know if anything
besides the program name has to be changed.

I found this page on Microsoft:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330184, but
frankly those directions scared me even more. (Yes, I am a coward.) I
don't know how to refigure my computer to boot from a disk
and the phrase "The instructions that appear on your screen may be
different, depending on the configuration of your computer." doesn't
exact fill me with self-confidence.

Can anyone give me the correct text for the boot.ini file for XP Home or
explain the fix in simple terms, as to a little child? Thank you very
much in advance.