[Solved] xp boot up help

[the hatters]

Hi,

I was trying to get rid of a dual boot option on start up(i had xp and windows 7 installed), and foolishly deleted a line from boot.ini, as read in the following guide(it was the bottom line in my boot.ini text file that looked similar to the one listed)

Screen just goes black when xp is chosen on start up.

I have a dell inspiron 6400, it didn't come with a operating disc.

I am able to get into the bios, and changed the first boot option to dvd drive, but it doesn't work.

 

any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

the hatters

 

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=142511

 

[KenB]

Hi,

 

Did you have separate hard drives ?

 

Screen just goes black when xp is chosen on start up.

I don't understand ...... if you deleted the second boot option ( bottom line ) then the machine should just boot from the primary disk.

( first in the boot order ) ...... assuming that the boot.ini file is still good.

You should not get a choice.

 

The MajorGeeks example shows XP Pro on 2 partitions ( same drive )

They were suggesting deleting the second option ( partition 2 )

 

If you have 2 hard drives - which OS is on the primary drive ?

 

If you have 2 hard drives ..... if you disconnect the Win 7 drive .... does the XP drive boot up now?

 

How did you have the dual boot set up ?

 

I assume it was the XP Boot.ini that you altered as Win7 does not have one :)

[Plastic Nev]

Edit= KenB beat me to posting. Ignore the below if you wish.

 

Hum, exactly what did you want to achieve as I am puzzled?

You followed that advise to remove the Windows XP from the dual boot option and that is what has happened. XP will no longer boot, you might as well delete all XP files if all you want to boot is Windows 7, or am I missing something, was it Windows 7 you wanted to remove? If so why, it is a much better system than XP ever was.

 

Nev.

[the hatters]

Hi KenB, Thanks for your rreply. I had the c drive partitioned and xp is the primary operating system. My son got a new laptop, and i am trying to put the old one back to its original state. i uninstalled windows 7 first and then tried to get rid of it showing up on start up. is there any way to undo the deleted line from boot.ini. I realised too late that i shouldn't have deleted it, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.....doh!

[KenB]

and xp is the primary operating system.

It sounds as if you have deleted the XP option from the Boot.ini - otherwise it should have booted.

 

Do you have the original XP installation disk - not recovery disks ?

[the hatters]

afraid not, its a dell and came preinstalled without one. it wont boot from dvd drive first, even though i've set that option in the bios, i was gonna use a linux cd if it did to try and get into the system...

[KenB]

Hi

 

This is a typical Boot.ini file:

 

[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 Home" /fastdetect

 

=====================

 

Do you get an error message when you try to boot up ?

 

Are you saying that the CDROM drive is not active ?

 

 

[the hatters]

no error message, when i boot up, the dual boot options come up, but when i choose xp, the screen goes black, and nothing further happens, as you mentioned, this must be because i deleted the xp option. no the cd drive doesnt load. i can hear the disc spin when inserted, but it doesnt load...

[KenB]

I am thinking that it may be possible access the Boot.ini on the problem drive by attaching it to another system.

I need to check this out first for you ...... too late now ..... will need to do this tomorrow.

 

Please post a reply as this will prompt me to look at the thread :)

[the hatters]

cheers KenB.........#prompt...........;-)

[the hatters]

i have linux puppy on usb pendrive and can get into windows files, dont know where to look for boot.ini file...........to repair missing line?? any suggestions welcome...

[the hatters]

now typing from problem laptop, problem solved, i used puppy linux from usb pendrive to access boot.ini file and re-entered missing line..........thanKs for all replies, appreciate it................;-)

[KenB]

EDIT - I wrote the explanation before I read your last post!!

 

I MUST learn to read previous posts

I MUST learn to read previous posts

I MUST learn to read previous posts ....... :)

 

Good to hear that you are up and running.

 

I will leave the explanation below as somebody else may find it useful.

 

=========================================================

 

Thanks for the prompt :)

 

OK - it is possible to access the Boot.ini file with the hard drive connected to another system.

This is a bit long-winded but stick with it....

 

First you need to connect the problem hard drive to another system.

To do this you would need a hard drive to USB adapter or connect it internally on the other system.

( If you need more help with this just shout )

 

Now the interesting bit :)

 

Once you have the drive connected you should be able to see it by clicking on "Computer" [ My Computer for XP ]

It will show up here as a drive letter .............let's say X: [ remember your drive letter - you will need it later ]

If you click on X: you should be able to see the files that are on that drive.

 

Now goto Start ( then Run for XP ) and type in .....cmd

[ for XP just hit ENTER ]

Vista / Win 7 do not hit ENTER but right click on cmd.exe that appears top left of screen > Run as Administrator.

This will take you to a black screen

http://cdn1.blogsdna.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/windows-7-elevated-command-prompt.png

 

At the prompt type the following:

X: ....... hit ENTER [ remember substitute your drive letter for X: ]

 

You will see this:

X:\>

Now type the following ..... [ please take note of the spaces ]

ATTRIB -S -R -H "boot.ini" ......[ there is a space after each section ..... i.e. after B / after -S etc. ALSO ..... boot.ini should be in inverted commas just as typed]

 

It will look as if nothing has happed as the screen will revert to X:\>

You have now removed all attributes from the file and we should be able to view it and edit it.

The file is a Hidden System Read Only file ......except that it isn't now :)

 

At the prompt now type edit boot.ini .....and hit ENTER [ no inverted commas this time ]

 

You should now see the Boot.ini file as it is on the problem drive.

Check this against the standard Boot.ini file below:

 

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Home" /fastdetect

 

What is written in inverted commas is unimportant - "Micro soft Windows XP Home" is just what appears on boot-up to give the Operating System a name.

Also there is a space before /fastdetect

The above is for one hard drive with the OS on the first partition ( C: )

Once you have checked and altered the Boot.ini file then click "File" [ top left ] > "Save"

 

Go back to the command prompt and type X: [ your drive letter ] ......ENTER

Type edit boot.ini ....... just to check that you have it correct.

If all is well type:

ATTRIB S R H "Boot.ini" ................ENTER [ again note the spaces ]

 

This will give the file the attributes that we removed earlier.

 

Return the drive to its rightful place and try booting up.

Hopefully all will be well :)

[the hatters]

thanks

 

and thanks very much for your time spent helping me, greatly appreciated.......:o:o

[KenB]

You are welcome

 

I learned a bit today too :)