[Steve Soleimani]

When I restarted my computer I got a message saying "invalid boot.ini loading from c:\windows". The machine then proceeds to boot normally. Is there anything to worry about? What should I do?

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Try this ... go to start...run ...and type in MSCONFIG...press OK Then click on the "Boot.ini" tab. First, make sure if using XP Pro that the following is listed:

[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


- this is the boot.ini information from XP, straight from the Microsoft Web Site. [operating systems] should be on one line!

If you have a blank boot.ini file, copy and paste this information - if all information is already there, then don't change anything.
Next, click the button that says "check all boot paths". You should get back a message stating that everything is good (the computer checks to make sure the boot.ini file is compatible with Microsoft Operating Systems).
Next, assuming your computer likes the boot.ini file that is in there (and it should), then click the button that says "set as default". By doing this, you have now created a new (modified) boot.ini file that is a carbon copy of the original.
Click apply. You will be prompted to restart. Before doing so, go back to MSCONFIG and in the general tab you will see that "use modified boot.ini" should now be checked.
During reboot, you should not get the invalid boot.ini message (at least I didn't). What you will get is a message ,after reaching the desktop, stating that you are not using the defaults or something like that and do you wish to go back into MSCONFIG to restore the default settings. Since your new boot.ini file is exactly the same as your original, click no and check the box to hide that message.

Edited by happyrck, 23 June 2007 - 07:57 AM.

[happyrock]

Try this ... go to start...run ...and type in MSCONFIG...press OK Then click on the "Boot.ini" tab. First, make sure if using XP Pro that the following is listed:

[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


- this is the boot.ini information from XP, straight from the Microsoft Web Site. [operating systems] should be on one line!

If you have a blank boot.ini file, copy and paste this information - if all information is already there, then don't change anything.
Next, click the button that says "check all boot paths". You should get back a message stating that everything is good (the computer checks to make sure the boot.ini file is compatible with Microsoft Operating Systems).
Next, assuming your computer likes the boot.ini file that is in there (and it should), then click the button that says "set as default". By doing this, you have now created a new (modified) boot.ini file that is a carbon copy of the original.
Click apply. You will be prompted to restart. Before doing so, go back to MSCONFIG and in the general tab you will see that "use modified boot.ini" should now be checked.
During reboot, you should not get the invalid boot.ini message (at least I didn't). What you will get is a message ,after reaching the desktop, stating that you are not using the defaults or something like that and do you wish to go back into MSCONFIG to restore the default settings. Since your new boot.ini file is exactly the same as your original, click no and check the box to hide that message.

Edited by happyrck, 23 June 2007 - 07:57 AM.

[Steve Soleimani]

I don't have a "Boot.ini" tab, probably because i have Home Edition, and not Pro.

[Troy]

XP Home Edition has the Boot.ini tab, I just checked (I use Home Edition). This is exactly what mine says, and I don't have any problems.

[boot loader]
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
timeout=30
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

What do you see when you Start > Run > MSCONFIG?

[Steve Soleimani]

When I type in MSCONFIG it brings up the System Configuration Utility, and the tabs I currently see are:

General
System.ini
Win.ini
Services
Startup

Edited by Steve Soleimani, 24 June 2007 - 09:39 AM.

[happyrock]

are you sure what version of windows are you using...
xp should look like this

get a screenshot and post it for me

Edited by happyrck, 24 June 2007 - 10:28 AM.

[Steve Soleimani]

[The Skeptic]

Read this.

[Steve Soleimani]

When I typed in "C:\Boot.ini" into run, it gave me this error message:

[The Skeptic]

There is another part in the link I gave you, changing a value in the registry. If you go for that please don't forget to backup the key or the entire registry beforhand.

[evovove]

Looks like you're completely missing the boot.ini file from your C: drive.
Goto C:\WINDOWS\pss and copy 'boot.ini.backup' to your C: drive and rename it to 'boot.ini'. Reboot your machine and this problem should be gone.

Edited by evovove, 25 June 2007 - 10:42 AM.

[Steve Soleimani]

Thank you it worked, and the boot.ini tab is back in the msconfig.

[evovove]

no worries.

[Steve Soleimani]

Now that the boot.ini tab is back does that mean everything is OK now?

[Troy]

Um, you tell us? As long as it doesn't give you the error messages you were enquiring about, then I guess so!

Cheers