Specifying Drives on Bootup (boot.ini)

[Guest]

Hi there:

How can I identify which drives are which from within Win XP. I want this
info so I can use the XP boot loader for booting multiple OSs. For example,
the following is how XP specifies my current boot drive:

[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"

How do find out which drives are identified by XP by what string? In other
words, how do I find out which drive is "multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(1)partition(0)"?

 

[Wesley Vogel]

In

other words, how do I find out which drive is
"multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(1)partition(0)"?

The first valid number for partition(Z) is 1, so there is no 0.

<quote>
multi(W)disk(X)rdisk(Y)partition(Z)

W
Specifies the drive controller number (also known as the ordinal number),
typically 0. The first valid number is 0.

X
This value is always 0 when the multi() syntax is used.

Y
Specifies a physical hard disk attached to drive controller W. For ATA
controllers, this number is typically between 0 and 3. For SCSI
controllers, this number is typically between 0 and 7, or 0 and 15,
depending on the adapter type. The first valid number is 0.

Z
Specifies the partition number on the physical disk specified by parameter
Y, attached to the controller specified by parameter W. All partitions in
use are assigned a number. The first valid number is 1.
<quote>
from...
Reviewing and Correcting Boot.ini Settings on x86-based Systems
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prmc_str_masc.asp

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Hi there:

How can I identify which drives are which from within Win XP. I want this
info so I can use the XP boot loader for booting multiple OSs. For
example, the following is how XP specifies my current boot drive:

[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"

How do find out which drives are identified by XP by what string? In
other words, how do I find out which drive is
"multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(1)partition(0)"?

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi there:

How can I identify which drives are which from within Win XP. I want this
info so I can use the XP boot loader for booting multiple OSs. For
example,
the following is how XP specifies my current boot drive:

[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"

How do find out which drives are identified by XP by what string? In
other
words, how do I find out which drive is
"multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(1)partition(0)"?

BOOT.INI and ARC Path Naming Conventions and Usage
http://support.microsoft.com/directory/article.asp?ID=KB;EN-US;Q102873

--
Bruce Chambers

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[Guest]

That *is* useful information. Thanks!

However, the link you provided lead to a page with links with resources but
I wasn't able to find the section you specified.

I'm wanting to find somewhere in XP that tells me which controller is
"multi(0)", "multi(1)" and which partition is "partition(1)", "partition(2)",
and so on.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

However, the link you provided lead to a page with links with resources

but I wasn't able to find the section you specified.

Do a Ctrl + F for: Table 29-10 Multi() Parameters
here...
Windows XP Resource Kit: Troubleshooting the Startup Process
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/reskit/c29621675.mspx

I'm wanting to find somewhere in XP that tells me which controller is
"multi(0)", "multi(1)" and which partition is "partition(1)",
"partition(2)", and so on

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control
Value Name: SystemBootDevice
--------

HOW TO: Edit the Boot.ini File in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289022

The Purpose of the Boot.ini File in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314081

Safe-Mode Boot Switches for Windows Boot.ini File
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/239780

Boot.ini File Still Contains an Entry for Windows NT 4.0 After New
Installation of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304829

Boot.ini file has been changed after installing third party software
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555044

Boot.ini File Contains Previous Boot Options
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/225997

"Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows Could Not Start" Error Messages When You
Start Your Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330184

Bootcfg
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr...net/prodtechnol/winxppro/proddocs/bootcfg.asp

Additional information and help with the boot.ini
http://www.xmission.com/~comphope/issues/ch000492.htm

Available switch options for the Windows 2000 Boot.ini file
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833722

Available switch options for the Windows XP and the Windows Server 2003
Boot.ini files
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833721

Boot INI Options Reference
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/information/bootini.mspx

Boot Parameter Reference
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d..._92599dfa-1b31-4273-8202-31c51e190b01.xml.asp

BOOT.INI and ARC Path Naming Conventions and Usage
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/102873

BOOT.INI Controlling The Boot Process
http://www.dewassoc.com/kbase/multiboot/boot_ini.htm

Definition of System Partition and Boot Partition
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314470

How Partition Numbers are Assigned in BOOT.INI
http://www.bootitng.com/kb/article.php?id=159

HOW TO Edit the Boot.ini File in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289022

How to Hide Boot.ini Entries from Displaying After Multiple Installations
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/160899

Reviewing and Correcting Boot.ini Settings on x86-based Systems
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prmc_str_masc.asp

Safe-Mode Boot Switches for Windows Boot.ini File
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/239780

The purpose of the Boot.ini file in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314081


Ctrl + F for: Understanding the Boot.ini Naming Convention
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/Windows2000Pro/reskit/part2/proch06.mspx?mfr=true

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In