Missing boot.ini error

I figured that all out, and discovered that Windows is on drive 1 partion 1. I will modify the arc path and see what happens. TTYL

 

Windows now boots from the HDD. I have the GUI disabled, and the startup asks me if I want to boot default, or windows xp. Default doesn't work, and I assume that is because I didn't change the path in the Default section of boot.ini?

 

Yes, you'll need to edit the default path as well. It sounds like you've got the hang of it now and are on a downhill run. The default path should agree with the path of the first system loader path in the boot.ini file.

 

OK... all is well now Surferdude2. I just can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate all your help. You saved me a ton of heart ache. I have been more than just a casual user since the CPM days. You would think I could help myself more. It wasn't that the boot.ini was corrupt, it was missing altogether. How do these things happen out of the blue?

Anyway, thanks again. I have bookmarked you web site.

Cheers

Bob

 

Bob, It's my pleasure to help you since I get some justification for all the time this one-eyed monster eats away from me.

Thanks for posting back your success so that others may be helped.

All the best,
Dude.

 

To complete this thread properly, I should mention that this issue could possibly have been fixed using the Recovery Console of XP and running the FIXBOOT or BOOTCFG commands. That's not possible for some users since they don't have an install CD or other method of for booting to the Recovery Console so the method I offered gives an alternate way for those users. The Recovery Console also tends to be more of a kluge than a helper at times.

 

I do have the CD. It seems to me that I tried to run the recovery console qutie some time aqo and ran into prolems with it. Whatever my issue then, I found another answer. I do have some items like The Ultimate Boot CD, and I think other bootable CD stuff for helping with problems like this. I seem to remember that Fixboot and Bootcfg are available on at least one of them, as well as a plethora of other "fix it" stuff. I hesitate to use them, because the documentation isn't always clear. Anyway, next time I have a missing boot.ini message, I know just what to do, and if necessary, I will try to run the recovery console again.

Thanks again... Bob