I want to edit boot.ini, i can't do diddley with it. I boot from a dos bootdisk 6.22 and when i execute attrib command it won't do it. as the attrib command is on the floppy i type "a:attrib -r -s -h boot.ini" from c: is there somthing wrong with this...i get the same result from a: ie "attrib -r -h -s c:boot.ini" -ps, i am trying to recover from a missing ntoskrnl.exe missing/corrupt issue in nt4

Is c: fat and not ntfs? Can you see the files on c:? Have you tried from the diskette A:\> attrib c:\*.* and see a list of files go by with their attributes? How about A:\> attrib -h -s -r c:\boot.ini ??? note the space between each - and the letter before it. Unless you changed your partitioning by adding a drive or playing with partition magic messing with the boot.ini will make NO difference concerning the "missing" ntoskrnl.exe file. This file is in the system32 folder. If your system can be read from a floppy diskette can you see if the file exists in the winnt\system32 folder?

Is c: fat and not ntfs? ***don't know, how can i tell Can you see the files on c: ***no, until i use ntfsdos utility Have you tried from the diskette A:\> attrib c:\*.* and see a list of files go by with their attributes? How about A:\> attrib -h -s -r c:\boot.ini ??? note the space between each - and the letter before it. ***yes Unless you changed your partitioning by adding a drive or playing with partition magic messing with the boot.ini will make NO difference concerning the "missing" ntoskrnl.exe file. ***i used the 3 nt setup disks and ERD and the "multi" entries in boot.ini were changed to "scsi" making things even worse..especially as i can't edit/delete it This file is in the system32 folder. If your system can be read from a floppy diskette can you see if the file exists in the winnt\system32 folder? ***my boot.ini is in c:

You edit the BOOT.INI file in NT, NT is not based on MSDOS and doing what you are doing will likely lead to no O/S. NT has the tools required without resoting to hacking.

Um so you know now that you have NTFS not a FAT partition if you have to use ntfsdos to read it. Is the version of ntfsdos you have the FULL read/write version or just the read only? You need the full. set your path to c:\winnt\system32 and then try your attrib command. In other words use NT's attrib not your dos boot disk one. The question concerning the file was not about the boot.ini but if ntoskrnl.exe file existing in the system32 folder. After all this is what you are trying to correct concerning the error message. Make a new boot.ini file in a different system and copy it to the hard drive of the problem system. You will get a message about overwriting but should be able to complete. This bypasses the whole attrib issue.

Is the version of ntfsdos you have the FULL read/write version or just the read only ***ro. set your path to c:\winnt\system32 and then try your attrib command. In other words use NT's attrib not your dos boot disk one. ***unrecognised command The question concerning the file was not about the boot.ini but if ntoskrnl.exe file existing in the system32 folder. After all this is what you are trying to correct concerning the error message. ***gotcha.....it does exist in system32 folder...and it's a different size...this all came about trying to install sp6, but can't copy it Make a new boot.ini file in a different system **what do you mean by "system" thanks

"system" would be a friends pc. The boot.ini is just a simple text file. But if you don't have the ability to write to the ntfs partition there is no point. When you get a message like unrecognized command it means command could not find the file you are referancing. Your next logical step is to actually change directory like cd c:\winnt\system32 so you are actually there. Then list the file you're looking for with dir attrib*.* Is it there? Now type attrib -h -s -r c:\boot.ini and see what happens. But without RW on the drive there is not much you can do to recover. Next step in recovery is to gain access to your data since it appears the present install is hosed. Boot the NT cd via the Bios and it will start install. make sure to have any drivers you may need of floppy disk and hit f6 to add them [read the screen at the bottom for when] You do this by doing a 2nd install of NT but when asked for the folder use "winnt2" so you don't overwrite the original installation. This will gain you access to the drive so you can get anything you want/need off the drive. You can try fixing the first install from the 2nd. Last resort is wipe the drive with the NT install and do one fresh install. Best of luck!