Win 2k Pro Boot Error Message

[ChuckR]

I don't know when it started, but I just started seeing a message during boot that there is a
"problem with boot.ini" "Will use C:\WINNT" I can't find boot.ini in my system. I have set Windows Explorer Folder Options to show all hidden and system files.
What could the cause be?
Where are the boot.ini files?
Thanks

 

[NEOSOLACE]

that is what displays your choice of operating systems before windows boots( if you have more than one OS) it shouldn't be anywhere other than your root of C:

 

[ChuckR]

I only have 1 OS. Boot.ini is NOWHERE to be found on this machine. Win2000 Pro.
I did find it on my wifes XP Home machine.
I have had this machine for a few years and the message is new, or I am paying better attention, but it is very strange.

 

[loic2003]

yeah if you do a physical search for boot.ini it won't come up with anything. I believe it's imbedded in another file.

To view & edit your boot.ini file do this:

go to:

Control Panel -> System -> advanced -> Startup and Recovery Settings and click 'edit' next to

"To Edit the startup options file manually...."

And this is your boot.ini file. I've got a single OS (XP SP1) on my machine on the primary partition, and this is what my boot.ini file contains:

[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

Hope this helps (not sure if copy/pasting the above will be detrimental, any ideas, anyone?)!

-Loïc

 

[ChuckR]

loic2003, I followed your suggestion to the point where I was told it could not open boot.ini. In reality, I believe Win 2000 Pro can't find it either. I am afraid it is lost. Don't know what this means to the operation of my system.

 

[loic2003]

sorry for the delay.

An install over the top could well help things out without losing any data or settings. Just put the win2000 disk in and install over the top of your current install. Hopefully it'll create a new boot.ini file and hence solve your problem.

-Loic