Boot.ini file

[Briab Guy]

I am working on a XP pro box, that wont boot except for safe mode. I am getting a bad boot.ini file message. I was gonna just reinstall xp but would like to fix it without doing that. How could I fix the boot.ini file?

It will not boot at all. It gives a stop error message, and the corresponding numbers it gives dont jive at M/S. The fix they give is not the right one in other words.
I got to a Recovery Console using the CD, but I do not know enough about it. Does anyone know a web site that has a good tutorial on the recovery console?

thanks for any help

[ZANEY123]

http://www.theeldergeek.com/recovery_console.htm

http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;307654&

http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/wxprcons.htm

try these three i have a great tut at home i will cut and paste later when i get there if this doesn't help.

zaney123

HTH

[Briab Guy]

hey, those are really good sites and I thank you very much.
The PC still is not fixed, but I am learning a lot.

[sleepypost]

Have you tampered with your sys32 file? If so, you should always back that stuff up. If you want a custom boot screen for example, always install a backupline for WinXP (kind of like a dual boot).

[Briab Guy]

I am trying to fix a friends box. it died after he did a M/S service pack update. Will not boot,goes to a stop error screen with error message numbers that the fix at M/s doesnt apply. I was getting a bad boot.ini file message, but have since redone the MBR and fixed the boot.ini, so that wasnt it.
I wish there was a way to do a sys restore through a command prompt or that repair screen you can get to that reminds me of DOS.
Be cause it will not do a restore in safe mode.
Could you explain a little more or give me a web site about back up line? I know what dual boot is (my PC has 3 O/S's on it) but I dont follow you.
U mention the boot screen. I dont find xp to be as friendly as 98 is in that area. But I found a neat site that will do it for you:
http://www.radfiles.com/logonloader/
If tht don't work, do a search on logon loader. Its pretty cool.
Thanks for the help

[sleepypost]

Ok, i mention backupline because i discovered it when tampering with my sys32 file boot.ini and login screen. I have found this to be "packaged" with many bootXP programs (look at ezskins.com for many bootXP type stuff). Its not THAT important as you can repair windows or even copy your files and do a clean re-install (last resort).

Ok, check your help/support menu. Type: "Repair". That will bring you to some repair options. Try those and respond. Good luck.

[mikeL]

Briab Guy,

If I understand this right, the computer's Boot.ini files is corrupt.
is, or can you install the recovery console?

If so you should be able to type- bootcfg to repair the boot.ini file
here's a copy of mine in case you need somthing to go by

HTH


[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

[BrandenUNC23]

If your friend had a bootleg version of XP and downlaoded SP1, your gonna have your work cut out for you. Microsoft caught on to people using bootleg XP and made SP1. If you had a legal version then you were cool, but if you had an ilegal copy, SP1 destroyed something(not sure what, registry maybe?) to make to pc not work properly.

[sleepypost]

Also, some people type in other people's keys, which is a big mistake. I think thats how SP1 catches people, is by phony keys generated or shared at warez type sites. Always use YOUR key.