Hi guys I`m having a bit problem here with my boot loader. 3 hours back I had windows 2000 and windows 98 both installed on my computer. when i used to start computer, it used to give me the black screen, which gives option to select if I want to start windows 2000 or windows 98. Now because of some problem with my windows 2000, I had to reinstall it. After reinstalling windows 2000, now when i start my computer, I dont get that black screen anymore which gives option to start windows 2000 or windows 98. windows 98 is still installed in my hard disk. Does any one knows how to get that black screen back which gives options to start windows 98 or windows 2000? Thanks for ur precious time. Note: I have already read posts on this topic in this forum. most of those talked about boot.ini file. i have tried searching this file into my machine and didnt find it.

The boot.ini folder is hidden. It will be located on your C: drive (at the root) and you'll have to use the 'attrib' command to remove the hidden attribute on the boot.ini before you can edit it. To do this, open a command prompt window and change to your C: drive. Make sure you're at the root of C: (ie: C:\) Once there type the following command: attrib boot.ini You should see something like the following: A SH C:\boot.ini The A is an archive attribute....don't worry about it. The "SH" tells you the file is a System file and Hidden. Both attributes will have to be removed before you can edit the file. To remove the attributes, do the following command exactly as you see it: attrib -s -h boot.ini That should remove them. You can double check by typing the "attrib boot.ini" command again. If you don't see SH, then you're good to go. There's plenty of info on the web regarding the boot.ini file so do a search and some reading. Basically, you just have to add an entry for the 98 setup but I can't tell you how to do that as I don't know how your system is set up (ie: which OS is on what partition etc). If you do some research though, you'll find what you need and be able to edit it yourself and finally get back into your 98 OS. NOTE: when you're done, you'll want to add the S and H attributes back to the boot.ini file. To do so do the following command in the command prompt window: attrib +s +h boot.ini

When W2K is (re-)installed it automatically sets itself as the default OS to boot - even if other OS already present. Possibly somehow you have managed to bypass the boot-menu screen (normally the default display for 30seconds on boot-up). To verify if all is well in that area: Boot to W2K. Then right-click on the MyComputer icon (on the Desktop). Select Properties, then click on the Advanced tab, then on Start-up & Recovery 'box'. Verify that the: "display list of operating systems" check box (near top of displayed info) is checked. When it is "checked" the time the display is on the screen should default to 30seconds; unless it has been changed - somehow or other, and could even be zero (0). If it is "checked" and shows zero (0), then change it to be at least 15 second (even perhaps the default 30seconds). If it is "unchecked" the time setting will be zero (0). If it is "unchecked" then check that box (it's on the left of displayed info.), and as already indicated it will default ot 30seconds; you can leave it at that setting. Possibly this check-box has become unchecked thus booting straight to the default OS (by-passing the boot-menu screen - that usually displays the installed OS); this because the display time = 0 instead of someuseful value... If this doesn't resolve it for you, then a little more info would be useful - please. Where is each OS installed; how did you go about re-installing W2K? Post back with the partitioning of the drive; where each OS is installed and formats of each partition. Presuming you can still boot to W2K, follow the instructions in the link below re locating the boot.ini (it's a hidden file). http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=311578 Scroll down a little ways to appropriate section/intructions. If/when you find the boot.ini post it here, along with other info as requested above.

Hi Guys First of all Thanks for replying. Mr. trvlr Following the steps told by you, I went to My computer->Properties->Advanced->Startup and recovery. In Default Operating System, there , windows2000 professional /fastdetect is selected. The checkbox named as "display list of operating system for" is also checked and the given time is 30 seconds, by default. Now this doesnt resolves my problem, so I`m giving you the following information as you asked: "Where is each OS installed; how did you go about re-installing W2K?" windows 2000 is installed in drive C:\ having space of 10gb. windows 98 is installed in drive E:\ having space of 10gb. when i re-installed windows 2000. I first booted into windows 98, from there I selected start->shutdown->Restart computer in MS-DOS mode. When DOS was loaded and I was on E:\Windows, I just gave the quick format command to format C:\ (i.e format /q C:). After the drive C:\ was formatted, I put in the windows 2000 professional cd. Pressed ctrl+alt+del to reboot from DOS. I went into setup of CMOS, changed first boot device to CDROM. saved settings and exited. Booted from windows 2000 cd and re-installed it on C:\ . Both c:\ and E:\ drives are on FAT32. Now you have also asked for boot.ini file, so here it is ======================================================== [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="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect ========================================================= This is all information you have asked for. I hope it`ll help you understand the problem and you can easily suggest solutions to that. Thanks for your precious time.

During your re-install of W2K you reformatted c: , thus you erased the '98 boot/start-up files, and also the required bootsect.dos (which allows '9x to boot via the W2K boot-loader) – both were in the original Primary. This is why '98 does not appear in the boot.ini and thus no access to '98. Make an ERD for W2K. Then visit the link below: http://www.dougknox.com Go to the tips section and then the right column and open the item: “ Install 98/Me After XP is Installed ” and follow the instructions there, re’ installing ‘98. Also note to modify the offered (default) c:\windows000 to read e:\windows. Complete the re-installation/overwrite of current ’98. This will install ’98 boot-files to W2K c: Primary. Confirm you can now boot to ’98 only. Then you can either follow the instructions re’ Repairing XP boot-loader (it applies equally to W2K). Or run W2K set-up and run the Repair routine as detailed at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;293401 applies equally to ’98. The M$ link is probably simpler/easier on this occasion?. The line that will be added to the boot.ini (when dual-boot re-established) will resemble: E:\="Microsoft Windows" The repair routine will recreate the missing bootsect.dos; saves you the trouble of doing it manually (as per Doug Knox above) – which is not to decry that very useful routine The links above remove the need to duplicate all that “how to” here? Post back with results and if you need more info?

Hi mr. trvlr Thanks for guiding me through the way. I am sure that`ll not be much difficult in light of the steps you have explained. Thanks for ur precious time