missing boot.ini

[M5koy]

Hello! I have a problem with my machine because my boot.ini in c:/ directory is missing. Is there any way that I can fix it? I tried installing winxp again but it doesnt permit me to install it because it says that I have to fix the boot.ini first.

[Tiger Shark]

boot.ini is simply a text file that lays out the boot options at start up. It is a hidden system file so you can't simply view it normally or change it.

You need to boot to a CD or floppy(s), with an OS that understands NTFS, issue the command

attrib c:\boot.ini

This will tell you is it is there. If it is and corrupted issue the commands

attrib -s -h c:\boot.ini
del c:\boot.ini

Make a new file called boot.ini with the following lines

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

I have edited the some of the lines above to make it work for XP since this is actually my Win2k boot.ini file and IIRC they are similar. If not someone will jump on it I hope and correct me.

Hope it works for you.

[edit]

For some reason when posted the S from the word WINDOWS wraps but it doesn't in edit. The S is not on a line on it's own it goes at the end of WINDOW

Hope that's clear

[/edit]

[jinxy]

Easier than Tigers suggestion is to boot to your xp cd. Press R for the recovery console and Type: Boot.cfg

This should fix any boot.ini errors.

Then do a repair install.

[current]

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

If you have a scsi drive, you have to replace the "multi" with "scsi":


default=scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[M5koy]

Thank you guys!