Invalid BOOT.INI file for Windows 2000 Professional

Share what's in your boot.ini I'll compare it to mine.

I will not offer any step-by-step since you must be able to run notepad, copy and paste without step-by-step, click-by-click instructions.

Bob

Would love to share what's in the boot.ini file, but I can't open or locate it!

Thanks, CR

You could also copy it's contents from http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311578&sd=sadtech

You could make a new one if you don't have one at all. Sorry, no step by step. That's in the Newbie forums.

Bob

Am not sure where I should copy the boot.ini file to?
The Newbie forums you referred to - what did you mean?

Thanks,
CR

You are not sharing details. C:\BOOT.INI is the file and location, an example boot.ini is in the link provided which you can edit to match the WINDOWS install directory (WINNT?) that you installed to.

Dive in and try a little harder? But I don't know if you have a C: since you didn't share.

Bob

PS:Sample Boot.ini File

This is a sample of a default Boot.ini file from a Windows 2000 based computer:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows 2000" /fastdetect

Thanks, I did check out the website link you listed. It mentions a %systemroot% drive in Explore, which I don't see on my computer.

I do have Local C drive, Desktop, My Computer, Compact disk D and E

Cannot locate the C:\BOOT.INI and all indications when trying to find this file through search - cannot find!
What else can I share with you?

I can't edit or fix the boot.ini if I can't find or locate it. Does seem to be missing. Have been looking for 2 days.

CR

It is specific to your install of 2000.

Given you have C: as the boot drive, you now have enough information to create C:\BOOT.INI and put my example text into that.

Best of luck,

Bob

Thank you again, I am assuming you are suggesting I open notepad, create new file, and type in the suggested boot.ini file information, then save to the C drive? Will this work?

Am I missing something?
Thanks again, CR

Notepad has this oddity it may save it as BOOT.INI.TXT You can avoid that by renaming it later or by start, run,

NOTEPAD C:\BOOT.INI

Notepad use is not something I'll cover in this forum. Hope you understand why.

Bob

Thank you for the information. Will try that and reboot the computer.
I did change the type of file from .txt to all files.
After I try this, will post the answer.

Thanks again, CR

Almost forgot to ask, does the "Windows 2000" discription in the boot.ini file need to have Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional in it?

CR

Best of luck. You may want to read a few more articles to see what each 'field' of the boot.ini does. That one is free for your imagination. Within reason that is. Don't put much else than A-Z and 0-9 in there to steer clear of text handling issues.

Bob

Thanks Bob,
Rebooted and the black screen appears with "F1 to resume" - the invalid boot.ini screen does not come up but windows starts to load.

Any suggestions why this happens?

CR

Did you research this one on Google.com?

Also, no make/model was noted in your posts so I can't offer any specific advice here.

Bob

PS. http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000392.htm duplicates my thoughts this is not an OS issue.

Thanks -
Haven't had the time to research Google.com - will check there also.
I have a Pentium 4 with 38GB capicity. I do not have a model type, it was a special customized computer by a computer company. No brand name.

CR

Belarc Advisor (google.com) may identify it. If not, try looking at the board.

Just wondering. How is it we know the make/model of our car but not our PC?

Bob

My computer has an Intel motherboard and an ATI Radeon Display driver, soundmax digital audio sound card. I know it has some very good components, but it isn't a Dell, HP, etc.
Has a Pentium 4 CPU 2.0 GHZ

Custom cars usually start with a mfg model -
Computers can be built from peices.

CR

Custom car owners tend to know each nut and bolt. I just think it interesting we don't know these things.

-> The BIOS may be out of date or you just need to go in and make a small change like set the clock and save the settings.

Bob

Thanks again....
Will try that and double check the boot settings as I was trying to boot to the Microsoft Windows 2000 CD in order to do the Recovery Console.
However, the same screen was coming up before I did any changes to the Bios.

Will reboot and try again.
CR

The F1 screen to show before you get to the BIOS is proper.

Tried changing the time, saved in BIOS and rebooted. I still get the same screen - white letters on a black background showing my computer information and at the bottom of the screen is says "press F1 to Resume". In order for Windows to load, I need to press the F1 key. This happens out of the blue - and has always done so since I have had this computer - 3 years now!

Sometimes it boots right into Windows and sometimes I get this screen.......really tired of it....

Is it proper to have that screen when you boot up your computer, or aren't you supposed to just boot into Windows?

CR

I don't have all the information needed to tell you what BIOS setting to change. I only know I've fixed this one dozens (or more) times. At least it's not an OS issue.

"This happens out of the blue - and has always done so since I have had this computer - 3 years now!"

Can I ask how the supplier got away with delivering it with that bug?

Bob

1. Read my reply to http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6127-0.html?forumID=9&threadID=127919&messageID=1445733 about my happy CD/DVD recipe.

2. An out of date BIOS is a common issue I run into. For instance an early release BIOS may not be too forgiving about DRIVE SPINUP TIME but not fail the drive. Instead it may timeout and give the owner the famed F1 to boot.

3. Many posts leave out the details. It's the member's choice but without details it's rough to point at the issues or possible cures.

Cheers,

Bob

Read your reply website -
One of the things I do a regularly, is update the drivers, software, and maintenance on the computer.

I do not know how to update the BIOS.
Also don't open the case of the CPU -

Will tell you this, won't be buying a customized built computer with no brand name ever again!

The computer tech that built it has worked on it many times and some of the old bugs keep coming back. Like the F1 issue and reboots on it's own whenever.

I have learned to live with these issues, but they are bothersome.

Thanks for you info, am not sure I will be able to fix these issues.

CR

Thanks Bob for all you help and directing me in the right direction on this issue.
The new boot.ini file is now working fine.

I also updated my Bios from a download at Intel and no more F1 to resume. Followed the instructions from the Intel download. The computer now boots up like it should directly into windows.

Thanks again.....
CR

Next you'll tell me about your car insurance.

(chuckle)

Bob

There have been a number of posts to this invalid boot.ini discussion so I will just forward a boot.ini file in hopes that this one helps although it appears to be the same or similar to one already posted.

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=3
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
C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Setup"

For further information go to:
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1268/

If you are still having problems as you read this, hopefully this post will help you.