Not able to edit boot.ini.

Hey Majorgeeks!
Thanks again for your help in the past, but I once again need your knowledge!

I recently installed a clean boot of Windows XP Home on one of my hard drives (Primary), not realizing that I would have to edit my boot.ini file so that the computer will see the second install of Windows XP Home on my secondary drive.

The problem is, I can't seem to use the Bootcfg.exe! I searched the computer for it to no avail. I also (of course) ran the command prompt and entered bootcfg (/? and other attributes)... no luck.

If you have any contructive advice, I would sure appreciate it!

Thank you again in advance!
Randy O.

 

>> I recently installed a clean boot of Windows XP Home on one of my hard drives (Primary), not realizing that I would have to edit my boot.ini file so that the computer will see the second install of Windows XP Home on my secondary drive. The problem is, I can't seem to use the Bootcfg.exe! gone2tokyo<<

I believe with Windows XP Home you have to start the Recovery Console with the Windows XP CD-ROM.

These links may be helpful:

A discussion about the Bootcfg command and its uses

How To: Edit the Boot.ini File in Windows XP
The Purpose of the Boot.ini File in Windows XP
Safe-Mode Boot Switches for Windows Boot.ini File
Remove a Dual Boot
I have two installations of XP on the same partition.

Good Luck!

 

Thank you for the advice.

So are you uggesting that the bootcfg executable is only available throught the recovery console? If so, then I shall be back in business in no time!
As for the options of which disc is which, I should just use the Disc management in the administrative tools of Control panel? Thanks again for your time and patience!

Randy O.

 

You can also unhide your files then go to the root of C. Open the boot.ini file & edit it to something like this>

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="C install here" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="other install here" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

You can put what you like between the quotes. Save it & reboot.

 

Thank you hipster!

Yes I know that I am able to edit my boot.ini and I am aware of "How to", but I suppose my real question is: What do I type!?!?
I tried to edit the disc attribute "disc(0)" according to what my HD's show up as in Disc Manager. No Dice.
So I will try your suggested text and let you know how it works out!

Thanks again guys! I really appreciate all of the suggestions.

Randy O.

 

Actually just saw a hiccup. Sorry.

One is WINDOWS=.......that's for XP

The other WINNT=.......that's for Win2K

Change yours to your OS.

 

Hipster,
Thanks, but I caught that too
Actually I think it would be best if I just post what I am writing in my boot.ini file... deal?

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Normal Boot" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /KERNEL=ntosvist.exe
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Music Production Boot" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

When I get the boot selection screen at startup, It shows now 3 different boots:
Normal Boot
Music Production Boot
WIndows (default)

Only Normal Boot works (the Primary disc drive C

Man I am stuck... If you guys can help me I would be so happy.

Thanks again! I'll be on the board all tonight so post away....

Randy O.

 

Try swapping over this>

/fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /KERNEL=ntosvist.exe

and this

/fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Put /fastdetect at the end of the line.

 

Also try using lower case letters. Leave KERNEL.

 

No good Hipster.

I edited the boot.ini with your suggestions. Unfortunately I still get the Drive configuration failure.

Once again my situation is this:

I had a two boot setup of WinXP Home. I reinstalled the OS on the primary disc, thus erasing my old boot.ini. Now I need to add the existing secondary OS install into the new boot.ini on my newly installed Primary OS. I know, it's a mouthful! I am sorry that this is turning out to be very difficult. I am trying to communicate my problem as best as possible.

Thank you guys!
Randy O.

 

This is the only other thing that is different. Didn't mention it before as I thought you were on top of it. Dunno maybe you are.

Here it is>

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT

The partition is marked as (2) and you have WINNT. Shouldn't it be (1) and \WINDOWS???

Something to try anyway.

 

Hipster,
Yeah I noticed that, but that doesn't really matter anyhow. I changed it to one and it still gives me errors. I want to get rid of it but don't know how. Can anyone recommend an automated boot.ini editor that will just allow me to select two drives and it will create the .ini? Just a thought!

This is for my personal computer but I work at Circuit City as a In-Store tech, so it's not as if I have no experience editing system files. Having always just installing one OS and then the other, I have never had to manually edit the boot.ini before. As I mentioned, I am experienced but obviously not a know it all (or claim to be one). Help me out guys! I need to make some new tunes for a couple clients and I can't get into my Music Production Boot....

Thanks agian
Randy O.

 

Now....you can boot into windows? Right?

See how this goes. Open msconfig/BOOT.INI/Check all boot paths.
I used it once & it did nothing for me though. You never know...we are talinkg Microsoft.

 

Actually, no i cannot go into windows now. I can still only go into my primary boot. The second boot (the one I am trying to config) is still not able to be accessed.

My boot.ini is like 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="Normal Boot" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /KERNEL=ntosvist.exe

The operating system I wish to install is the primary IDE drive, while the operating system which boots up no problem (C:\) is my single SATA drive. ere is an image of what Disk Manager shows me:
http://www.upload-images.net/imagen/83a44881db.jpg


I find this funny, because the boot.ini is set to "disc (0)" while disc 0 shows in Disk Manager as my Music (boot) drive. I am baffled. Our main tech is baffled. Baffle City. Let's see what you guys can cook up. I know that you can!

Thanks
Randy O.

 

Found this. Did you try the bootcfg.exe this way>

Possible Fix by reconfiguring boot.ini using Recovery Console.

1.Boot with XP CD or 6 floppy boot disk set.

2. Press R to load the Recovery Console.

3. Type bootcfg.

4. This should fix any boot.ini errors causing setup not to see the XP OS
install.

5. Try the repair install.

One more suggestion from MVP Alex Nichol

"Reboot, this time taking the immediate R option and if the CD letter is say K: give these commands

copy K:\i386\ntldr C:\
copy K:\i386\ntdetect.com C:\


(two other files needed - just in case)

1. Type: attrib -h -r -s C:\boot.ini del C:\boot.ini

2. Type: BootCfg /Rebuild

which will get rid of any damaged boot.ini, search the disk for systems and make a new one. This might even result in a damaged windows reappearing; but gives another chance of getting at the repair"

 

Check this page out also.

Quote from it:

BOOTCFG - Should the Windows startup file, Boot.ini become corrupt, use bootcfg /rebuild to automatically replace the existing Boot.ini file. Alternatively, use bootcfg /add to append a Windows installation to Boot.ini without changing existing entries.

 

Hipster,
Your advice was right on! Actually Compuable suggested it first but I wasn't able to access my XP cd until I got home from work

The recovery cd did the trick. Now.... would you gentleman like to know what we we're doing incorrectly?

Given the situation (no xp cd but access to one XP boot to edit the boot.ini in notepad) what needed to be changed in the boot.ini file was the rdisk attribute. Since these boots were on seperate disks, changing the partition wouldn't matter... because both OS' are on the primary partition of each said drive! The rdisk attribute was the culprit.

Now knowing that info, I just went into the boot.ini file manually and erased and retyped it but with the music as the primary boot option... and it worked perfectly! I changed it back to the Normal boot as primary though, because that's the way I wanted it.

Well, I learned alot today! Hope I tought you guys something new as well, about boot.ini (that rotten little file) Now that I understand it, I can learn to respect it.

Never as much as I appreciate your help Hipster and Compuable, and respect YOUR knowledge.

Have a great day, wonderful week, and spectacular season!
Cheers

Randy O.

Ps... Here's the actual structure
[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="Normal Boot" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /KERNEL=ntosvist.exe
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Music Boot" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin

Friggin rdisk

Majorgeeks.com rules!

 

Good to hear...............at LAST!

So the BOOTCFG did the trick?

Now you have it fixed make a backup. I've got one or two lying around for the next time I trash the boot.ini file.

 

Fortunately, no need! I have memorized the order of text to make any boot.ini I would ever want

Once again, you guys are great! Thanks for helping me over this speedbump.

Randy O.