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saurabh gupta
saurabh gupta Posted on Dec 28, 2008
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Hello, I have 2 Operating Systems in a computer namely Windows XP(SP3) in C:\ & Windows Server 2003 in D:\ . I've deleted the file BOOT.INI accidentaly form X:\ drive(X:\ means all drives like C:\,D:\,......I:\), considering it as virus file. It's location is X:\boot.ini by default. Is that file was virus? After that incidence, During the every booting my computer tells me: Invalid BOOT.INI file Booting from C:\WINDOWS\ and starts the XP operating System automatically without asking for Server 2003. There is no good guide for this situation on the internet. The problem is that i dont have my xp cd so i cant get it from there!!! So how can i get this file back??

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2 Answers

Anonymous

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  • Expert 151 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 28, 2008
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Solution:

i)  I understand what ru trying to say, I'm afraid that iam not providing u with the right solution,                 however  would try my level best:

    a boot.ini file   contains this text for Windows XP;


[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" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

so i want u type this text exactly in an note pad and save it as boot.ini and copy it from where you detled it.....hope so it works....

try making some changes to it(so that it will be Microsoft Windows 2003 server.....as it is the text for Microsfot Windows XP Professional)

note(imp): here "noexecute=optin /fastdetect "  comes next to the "Microsoft Windows XP                                 Professsional" which is above it....

                            (OR)

when logon into Windows XP go to start button----->Click on Run------>type msconfig in text box----->
highlight BOOT.ini, you will see the above text ......

 

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  • Contributor 12 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 28, 2008
Anonymous
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Hi,
That's not a virus. Boot.ini is a default file needed for Windows OS to boot.
Fortunately, you can recreate the boot.ini files

This is a sample of the above Boot.ini file with a previous installation of Windows 2000 on a separate partition. [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="Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

Simple way to add operating system on a separate partition:
At the command prompt, type: bootcfg /copy /d Operating System Description /ID# Where Operating System Description is a text description (e.g. Windows XP Home Edition), and where # specifies the boot entry ID in the operating systems section of the BOOT.INI file from which the copy has to be made.


  • 1 more comment 
  • Anonymous Dec 28, 2008

    Hi,
    That's not a virus. Boot.ini is a default file needed for Windows OS to boot.
    Fortunately, you can recreate the boot.ini files

    This is a sample of the above Boot.ini file with a previous installation of Windows 2000 on a separate partition.


    [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="Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

    Simple way to add operating system on a separate partition:
    At the command prompt, type:

    bootcfg /copy /d Operating System Description /ID#

    Where Operating System Description is a text description (e.g. Windows XP Home Edition), and where # specifies the boot entry ID in the operating systems section of the BOOT.INI file from which the copy has to be made.

    Please rate this if you found this answer helpful. :)

  • Anonymous Dec 28, 2008

    Hi,
    That's not a virus. Boot.ini is a default file needed for Windows OS to boot.
    Fortunately, you can recreate the boot.ini files

    This is a sample of the above Boot.ini file with a previous installation of Windows 2000 on a separate partition.


    [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="Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

    Simple way to add operating system on a separate partition:
    At the command prompt, type:

    bootcfg /copy /d Operating System Description /ID#

    Where Operating System Description is a text description (e.g. Windows XP Home Edition), and where # specifies the boot entry ID in the operating systems section of the BOOT.INI file from which the copy has to be made.

    Please rate this if you found this answer helpful. :)

  • Anonymous Dec 28, 2008

    Hi,
    That's not a virus. Boot.ini is a default file needed for Windows OS to boot.
    Fortunately, you can recreate the boot.ini files

    This is a sample of the above Boot.ini file with a previous installation of Windows 2000 on a separate partition.


    [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="Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

    Simple way to add operating system on a separate partition:
    At the command prompt, type:

    bootcfg /copy /d Operating System Description /ID#

    Where Operating System Description is a text description (e.g. Windows XP Home Edition), and where # specifies the boot entry ID in the operating systems section of the BOOT.INI file from which the copy has to be made.

    Please rate this if you found this answer helpful. :)

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Anonymous

  • 1913 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 28, 2008

SOURCE: BOOT.INI deleted. How to re-create this file?

type in run "cmd" then presss enter then type "bootcfg /?" it gives u some help .

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Anonymous

  • 12 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 28, 2008

SOURCE: BOOT.INI deleted. How to re-create this file?

Hi,
That's not a virus. Boot.ini is a default file needed for Windows OS to boot.
Fortunately, you can recreate the boot.ini files

This is a sample of the above Boot.ini file with a previous installation of Windows 2000 on a separate partition. [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="Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

Simple way to add operating system on a separate partition:
At the command prompt, type: bootcfg /copy /d Operating System Description /ID# Where Operating System Description is a text description (e.g. Windows XP Home Edition), and where # specifies the boot entry ID in the operating systems section of the BOOT.INI file from which the copy has to be made.

Please rate this if you found this answer helpful. :)

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0helpful
1answer

I have 2 HDD's in my PC - both with Win XP Prop
Boot.ini is correct, but looks default is booting from Disk2 and partition 1 which is your G:\ 500 GB.

Try Copying boot.ini from c:\boot.ini to g:\boot.ini It might help

In your example I see missing "\" after partition(1), may be typing mistake, but in real time can generate error.

You boot.ini looks exactly same in both drive c:\ & G:\

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="GUY DRIVE XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

Note: boot.ini will be hidden and readonly file. You need to unhide the file and remote the read only option and then only you will be able to save the boot.ini file

Hope this helps
Read full answer
May 22, 2010 • Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2
tip

How to make Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition see more than 4GB RAM
Issue – After upgrading a server to Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition and adding additional memory, the OS still shows only 4 GB of RAM.

Additional Information – Physical Address Extension (PAE)

In Windows Server 2003, PAE is automatically enabled only if the server is using hot-add memory devices. In this case, you do not have to use the /PAE switch on a system that is configured to use hot-add memory devices. In all other cases, you must use the /PAE switch in the Boot.ini file to take advantage of memory over 4GB.

The newer Dell servers are capable of using hot-add memory devices, but the older servers do not.

If you upgrade an older Dell server and are experiencing the issue above, make the following change to the boot.ini file.

[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="Windows Server 2003, Enterprise" /fastdetect /PAE

Add the /PAE flag to the end of the boot device. Then reboot the server.

After rebooting the correct amount of memory should be displayed

To summarize, PAE is a function of the Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 memory managers that provides more physical memory to a program that requests memory. The program is not aware that any of the memory that it uses resides in the range greater than 4 GB, just as a program is not aware that the memory it has requested is actually in the page file.

Read full tip
on Apr 19, 2010 • Computers & Internet
tip

Mamimum RAM for User @ 3GB using boot.ini switch on 4GB Physical RAM
The DOS will always take a percentage of the physical RAM on the motherboard leaving the rest for the User. By default the Windows Operating System will use 50% of the physical RAM installed on the motherboard leaving the user the remaining 50% this can be changed using a switch in the boot.ini file

The /3GB was originally meant to be used in systems that have 3GB or more of RAM something that is no longer quite as rare as it used to be Windows XP SP3 will support upto 4GB although on a 32bit (x86) version of Windows will acually see 3.25gb that is the limitation.

However, even if you don't have 3 GB or more of memory, you can still use the /3GB switch. the switch can have any value between 2048 (2 GB) and 3072 (3 GB) megabytes. It needs to be expressed in decimal notation.

The /3GB switch applies to 32-bit systems only (x86).

Example with Windows XP SP3 Home Edition with the recovery console installed this gives you the option of default 50-50% split or the 3GB switch 75-25% split.

The /noexecute parameter enables, disables, and configures Data Execution Prevention (DEP), a set of hardware and software technologies designed to prevent harmful code from running in protected memory locations using the optin switch enables DEP only for operating system components, including the Windows kernel and drivers. Administrators can enable DEP on selected executable files by using the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT).

The /burnmemory parameter specifies the amount of memory, in megabytes, that Windows cannot use in this example, /burnmemory=128 will reduce the physical RAM memory that is available to Windows by 128 MB.

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 3GB Switch" /noexecute=optin /3GB /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition " /noexecute=optin /burnmemory=128 /fastdetect
C:CMDCONSBOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons


Check out the noexecute and the 3GB switch plus all available boot.ini switches HERE

I suggest that you use AnalogX MaxMem it is a realtime physical memory management program that automatically ensures that you always have as much physical memory available as possible used with the 3GB switch you should never have memory issues ever again.



Read full tip
on Mar 14, 2010 • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition for PC
0helpful
2answers

My server can't boot
Hi ,
You have not mentioned which Operating System . If its for 2003 follow the steps.
To install the Recovery Console as a startup option:
  1. While Windows is running, insert the Windows Server 2003 CD in the computer's CD or DVD drive.
  2. Click Start, and then click Run.
  3. In the Open box, type the following line, where drive is the drive letter of the computer's CD drive or DVD drive that contains the Windows Server 2003 CD, and then click OK: drive:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons

    To install Recovery console as a startup option for Windows Server 2003 x64 edition, type the following line: drive:\amd64\winnt32.exe /cmdcons
  4. Click Yes when the message appears, to install the Recovery Console.
  5. When you receive the message that states that the Recovery Console is successfully installed, click OK.
  6. To use the Recovery Console, restart the computer, and then use the ARROW keys to select Microsoft Windows Recovery Console in the Please select the operating system to start list.
uparrow.gifBack to the top How to Remove the Recovery Console loadTOCNode(2, 'summary'); As a precaution, do not remove the Recovery Console. However, if you want to remove the Recovery Console, you must do so manually.

To remove the Recovery Console, follow these steps:
  1. Restart the computer.
  2. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
  3. Turn on the Show hidden files and folders option (if it is not already turned on). To do so, follow these steps:
    1. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
    2. Click the View tab.
    3. Click Show hidden files and folders, click to clear the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) check box (if it is selected), and then click OK.
  4. Double-click the drive letter that represents the hard disk on which you installed the Recovery Console.
  5. Delete the Cmdcons folder from the root folder, and then delete the Cmldr file. To do so, follow these steps:
    1. Right-click Cmdcons, and then click Delete. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen, and then click Yes to confirm the deletion.
    2. Right-click Cmldr, and then click Delete. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen, and then click Yes to confirm the deletion.
  6. Remove the Recovery Console entry from the Boot.ini file. To do so, follow these steps.

    WARNING: Incorrectly modifying the Boot.ini file may prevent your computer from restarting. Make sure that you delete only the entry for the Recovery Console.
    1. At the root folder, right-click the Boot.ini file, and then click Properties. Click to clear the Read-only check box, and then click OK.
    2. Open the Boot.ini file in Notepad.
    3. Locate the Recovery Console entry, and then delete it. The Recovery Console entry looks similar to the following line: C:\cmdcons\bootsect.dat="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
    4. On the File menu, click Save, and then click Exit to quit Notepad.
  7. Change the attribute for the Boot.ini file back to Read-only. To do so, right-click Boot.ini, and then click Properties. Click to select the Read-only check box, and then click OK.

Read full answer
Oct 12, 2009 • Acer Altos G710 Server
0helpful
1answer

BOOT.INI deleted. How to re-create this file?
type in run "cmd" then presss enter then type "bootcfg /?" it gives u some help .
Read full answer
Dec 28, 2008 • Microsoft Windows XP Professional for PC
0helpful
1answer

BOOT.INI deleted. How to re-create this file?
Hi,
That's not a virus. Boot.ini is a default file needed for Windows OS to boot.
Fortunately, you can recreate the boot.ini files

This is a sample of the above Boot.ini file with a previous installation of Windows 2000 on a separate partition. [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="Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

Simple way to add operating system on a separate partition:
At the command prompt, type: bootcfg /copy /d Operating System Description /ID# Where Operating System Description is a text description (e.g. Windows XP Home Edition), and where # specifies the boot entry ID in the operating systems section of the BOOT.INI file from which the copy has to be made.

Please rate this if you found this answer helpful. :)


Read full answer
Dec 28, 2008 • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
0helpful
3answers

Operating sytem problem
format ur drive where u install win server 2008...tats it..
Read full answer
Sep 22, 2008 • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
0helpful
1answer

Booting error
What I would do is take the hard drive (1) out of that machine and put into an another pc - xp would be fine. Now go to the root of harddrive (1) and edit the boot.ini file. you will see an entry similar to this ......
[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

All you need to do is make sure you know which disk you're using (c drive is 0 usually) and the partition should be set to 1 for regular installations.

Did you add any drives lately? or make any changes to your OS?
Read full answer
Jun 14, 2008 • Microsoft Windows Server Standard 2003 for...
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BOOTMGR is missing
i have a problem when my external drive is in the usb and i start my laptop it says bootmgr is missing how can i sort this problem as i have to take it out of the usb plug to get my laptop working the i plug the external drive back in and it works,
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Dec 17, 2007 • Computers & Internet
0helpful
2answers

Winxp cannot boot - missing files message
Just make sure you get these files on your computer.
Download hal.dll from here:

http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?hal

Place it in windows\system32 folder.

Now go to the drive you have windows installed in (C:/ for example), and then create a new file, name it boot.ini.

Open boot.ini with notepad, and enter this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS /usepmtimer
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /usepmtimer
Save boot.ini now, and try booting your computer, it should work.
Read full answer
Nov 17, 2007 • Computers & Internet
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