19 replies to this topic

[babygirl1968]

help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My files and programs are gone, i am still able to boot with this message:

Invalid boot.ini


Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[TheFiresInTheSky]

boot.ini tells your computer where to boot from.
did ccleaner do this?!?!
all of your stuff is still there and can most likely be recovered.
i think you can put in your windows cd and go to repair.
what OS are your running, for example: XP, 98, ect...

[Eldmannen]

boot.ini is a file used by the NTLDR bootloader. It should be present on the system partition. C:

C:\boot.ini

It should look something like this;

[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 /NoExecute=OptIn

[TheFiresInTheSky]

but if she cant boot up, she cant access that, can she?
you could also try pressing F8 repeatedly when its booting up and try booting up into safe mode.

[babygirl1968]

neighberaaron, on Jul 16 2006, 04:29 PM, said:

boot.ini tells your computer where to boot from.
did ccleaner do this?!?!
all of your stuff is still there and can most likely be recovered.
i think you can put in your windows cd and go to repair.
what OS are your running, for example: XP, 98, ect...

I am running windows 2000 pro, and yes CCleaner did this. I contacted Dell for support but they could not help. I just need my information back. These are business files i need. If anyone can help it would be greatly!!!!!!!!!!! appreciated.

Thanks so much

neighberaaron, on Jul 17 2006, 10:13 AM, said:

but if she cant boot up, she cant access that, can she?
you could also try pressing F8 repeatedly when its booting up and try booting up into safe mode.

My computer does boot up, i am able to go into safe mode and the desktop. All my icons except a few are missing. When it boots it says invalid boot.ini booting from c: winnint

[Tarun]

Please write down and post the exact error message, word for word. It's pretty easy to remake your boot.ini file

This code should work for you IF your Windows installation is in C:\WINNT\

Open a notepad and copy the text below. Paste it inside and save the file as boot.ini This file must be placed in your C:\ root directory.

[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="Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

[babygirl1968]

Tarun, on Jul 17 2006, 11:59 AM, said:

Please write down and post the exact error message, word for word. It's pretty easy to remake your boot.ini file

This code should work for you IF your Windows installation is in C:\WINNT\

Open a notepad and copy the text below. Paste it inside and save the file as boot.ini This file must be placed in your C:\ root directory.

[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="Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

invalid boot.ini booting from c:\winnt i tried to repair and it will not allow, it says it must have a 2000 installation to be able to repair. What can i do! Help!

[pwillener]

When you boot into Safe Mode, can you view the contents of the boot.ini file (it is located on the root of the C: drive, normally). Can you copy the exact contents and paste it here?

[babygirl1968]

pwillener, on Jul 26 2006, 02:31 AM, said:

When you boot into Safe Mode, can you view the contents of the boot.ini file (it is located on the root of the C: drive, normally). Can you copy the exact contents and paste it here?

RegisterFile0=C:\WINNT\system32\Mfc42.dll

[TheFiresInTheSky]

since you can boot into safe mode, i suggest backing up all these important files that you have first.
as tarun said, open up boot.ini and paste in this code:

[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="Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

if that doesnt work,
go to start>programs>accessories>system tools>system restore.
try restoring your computer back to an earlier date.
there is NO WAY that CC could have done that.

[babygirl1968]

neighberaaron, on Jul 26 2006, 08:58 PM, said:

since you can boot into safe mode, i suggest backing up all these important files that you have first.
as tarun said, open up boot.ini and paste in this code:

[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="Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

if that doesnt work,
go to start>programs>accessories>system tools>system restore.
try restoring your computer back to an earlier date.
there is NO WAY that CC could have done that.

2000 dose not have restore points. I think when some deleted the cookies they may have gone to the uninstaller instead , is that possibe. All my programs are missing.

[hazelnut]

I was reading here babygirl
http://forums.pcworl...hp/t-21456.html
about someone who had a similar problem to you although it wasn't recently, but I wonder if you had downloaded anything similar ( not necessarily the thing she downloaded)
Give it a read to the end and although it doesn't sound promising for you, at least it explained how it could happen.

[babygirl1968]

hazelnut, on Jul 27 2006, 11:02 AM, said:

I was reading here babygirl
http://forums.pcworl...hp/t-21456.html
about someone who had a similar problem to you although it wasn't recently, but I wonder if you had downloaded anything similar ( not necessarily the thing she downloaded)
Give it a read to the end and although it doesn't sound promising for you, at least it explained how it could happen.

i did uninstall winfax by way of the uninstaller, could it have taken everything else? What can i do? CAn i install norton go back or is it to late? Help!!!!!!!!!!!

[hazelnut]

I have no real answer here babygirl, there are plenty of recovery products out there and anything would be worth a go in your case.

If you have to go down the road of reinstalling, it could be a good idea to keep your programs, and the work you do in the programs backed up separately. A lot of people keep copies of the program installers on an external drive, They also make regular copies of documents, photos, music, and spreadsheets made through those programs and keep them on the separate hardrive.
Then if the worst happens at least you have safe copies of all your work.
I wish you all the best in trying a recovery prog. Please let us know how you get on.

[TonyKlein]

In Win XP you can boot Recovery Console and use the Bootcfg /rebuild command to repair the boot.ini.

I believe in Win 2000 that's the Fixboot command. Let me Google a little to see what I can find out...

[TonyKlein]

OK, here's some reading:

Description of the Windows 2000 Recovery Console

Pay particular attention to the 'Fixboot' command. So that should be Fixboot c: if c: is the drive your boot.ini should be written to

Windows 2000 - Installing the Recovery Console

When Windows 2000 won't boot

And here's a Google Groups thread with a few additional pointers.

Good luck!

[MikeW]

Here is a link that describes a method of modifying the boot.ini using MSconfig

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Articles/Index...playTab=Article

[TonyKlein]

MikeW, on Jul 28 2006, 09:43 PM, said:

Here is a link that describes a method of modifying the boot.ini using MSconfig

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Articles/Index...playTab=Article

Windows 2000 doesn't have the Msconfig utility...

[YoKenny1]

Windoze 2000 msconfig
http://www.perfectdr...o/msconfig.html

[TonyKlein]

YoKenny1, on Jul 29 2006, 12:53 AM, said:

Windoze 2000 msconfig
http://www.perfectdr...o/msconfig.html

Yes, I know, but editing boot.ini via Msconfig doesn't really present an advantage over manually editing or rreplacing boot.ini as suggested by others.