I feel like an idiot.

So, there's this "boot.ini" file that's sitting around on my computer. It occurs to me that maybe I don't really need it. So I deleted it. By some random coincidence, I was in safe mode at the time. Anyways. Long story short, every single aspect of windows is still on my computer, except the one that lets my motherboard know that windows is there. Any advice on putting "boot.ini" back without reinstalling windows?

Boot into the recovery console and run "FIXBOOT". exit and reboot.

Oh Dear! Boot.ini as you have found out is essential in booting Windows XP. In fact most boot problems with boot ini are caused by an errors in boot.ini

Hears my boot.ini. Copy it to a floppy disk with the name boot.ini. With your Windows XP CD boot to the recovery console and copy this file to c:\ Each blank line is a new line.

This will work providing your boot drive is the first partition on the primary master drive which is normally the case but not guaranteed.

[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" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

Is this fails you will have to do a repair install of Windows XP. That means booting from your Windows XP and selecting the second repair option. The first one will put you into the recovery console. The second repair option will reinstall the OS but keep all your programmes and settings intact.

Stuart

Hi per,

I'm not sure that FIXBOOT will rewrite boot.ini. Rewrite the boot sector yes but boot.ini?

Stuart

Hi stuart. I am not sure either but that is the quickest try. If not here is the system repair.
How to do a system repair.--Boot from the xp cd and go past the recovery console to the install menu. Select repair the existing installation. You won't lose any data except the xp updates. Unless you have a slipstream sp1 cd you will have to d/l sp1 and all subsequent updates. You MUST have at least SP1 installed and the updates for security reasons. Be sure the firewall and A/V is active before going online as you will be susceptible to sasser and msblaster. If you don't want SP2 go to autopatcher.com and d/l SP1 and subsequent updates.

I believe the correct command in recovery console is bootcfg /rebuild FYI

wanderer,

I think you're correct. Look here for info regarding Bootcfg command and its uses in the RC.

i_XpUser

I stand corrected and educated. Thank you.

Well there you go. All that time I have spent messing about with boot.ini and I could have saved myself a load of trouble.

Just shows how much you think you know, theres always something you don't know.

Stuart

thank you thank you thank you.

Once I figured out how bootcfg /rebuild worked, I got windows back up and running in no time at all.

Thank god. I was starting to think I'd have to reinstall windows... :(

hey guys what goes around comes around. I just got lucky with the opporunity to give instead of get :-)