DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

boot.ini

11 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/boot-ini.4501/

vysakh
vysakh Original post #1
Jan 9, 2005 at 4:09 PM
yesterday, i bought digit and installed zone alarm.
it required a restart and i did it. during booting, an error came
"invalid boot.ini
booting from c:\windows"

then it is all normal. i went to c:\ but i couldnt find boot.ini file even though the hidden files and system files are shown. in the run command, i typed c:\boot.ini and pressed enter which resulted in an error telling that windows cannot find it.
i ran msconfig but the boot.ini tab is not present at all

i right clicked my computer and went to advanced--startup and recovery settings. an error came "The C:\boot.ini file cannot be opened. Operating systems and timeout settings cannot be changed"


what happened to my boot.ini????
Deep
Deep #2
Jan 9, 2005 at 4:35 PM
try login using administrator with blank password and see

windows might block access to boot.ini to users other than administrator..

Deep
A
Jan 9, 2005 at 8:30 PM
Try My Computer>Properties>Advanced>Statup & Recovery>Settings and try to edit boot.ini. Or else if you have a backup of boot.ini then try to place it in C:
swatkat
swatkat #4
Jan 9, 2005 at 8:48 PM
Boot using a Floppy and check th boot.ini in C:\ Drive,using Edit.
vysakh
vysakh #5
Jan 9, 2005 at 9:20 PM
i have a backup created by TWEAK-XP
can i try it?
N
Nemesis #6
Jan 9, 2005 at 9:24 PM
just type out the file, name it boot.ini and put it on ur drive...as simple as that....
i had a similar problem a long time back....dunoo how but the boot.ini disappeared frm my drive...called up tech support...they said just get the file frm some1 who runs XP home and put it on ur drive...no issues since then....lemme know if ya need the file....
P
pimpom #7
Jan 10, 2005 at 12:18 AM
It's easy to create the boot.ini file from scratch instead of going to the trouble of copying it from somewhere else. Create a new text file in your C: partition with Notepad and name it boot.ini. Don't forget to change the extension from .txt to .ini.

If you need to know what the contents of the boot.ini file should be, post back here with info about where and how your OS(es) are installed.

BTW, do you have your OS installed in a partition other than C: ?
it_waaznt_me
Jan 10, 2005 at 12:25 AM
Type this in NotePad and Save as boot.ini in C:

Code:
[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 wil work if you have XP in C: .. btw .. I have disabled DEP you can enable it by .. setting the option to /NoExecute= ...
ramprasad
Jan 10, 2005 at 7:03 PM
Hi
The boot.ini file will not be visible even if u have checked the "Show hidden files or Folders". What u have to do is get into Command Prompt and issue the command "attrib boot.ini -a-s-h". This will clear all the permissions. Now you can see the boot.ini file or edit it using EDIT in DOS prompt itself... Make sure u htake a back up of the file before editing it.....

Regards,
Ramprasad
vysakh
vysakh #10
Jan 10, 2005 at 7:13 PM
problem solved
copied the backup created by TWEAK-XP

good thing that TWEAK-XP created it
T
theraven #11
Jan 10, 2005 at 10:17 PM
The boot.ini file will not be visible even if u have checked the "Show hidden files or Folders". What u have to do is get into Command Prompt and issue the command "attrib boot.ini -a-s-h".
what u need to do is also set the "show system files" in folder options
no need to clear attirbs manually .. since after editing u have to set them back anyways