(Fix-it) Messed up your boot.ini file?

[jadison]

I recently decided to edit my boot.ini file (from within WinXP) to erase an entry on my boot-up OS selection menu and thought I did it correctly. I didn't, and when I rebooted I came to an error message similar to this:

<root>\system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupt, please replace this file and try again (or something to that effect)

Here's my configuration:
I have 2 partitions - C: has WinME on it but the OS is corrupted and won't allow me to boot to it (been like this for months)
D: has WinXP Pro on it and is where I spend all my time

Here's the boot.ini file I edited (changes in bold)
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2changed to 1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2changed to 1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
erased the line containing Windows Millenium

So, I proceeded to fix my problem with the following steps:

(I backed up the original boot.ini file before I changed it, but unfortunately I forgot where I saved it :P )

1) booted to the WinXP Pro install CD and used the recovery console to try and repair the installation (didn't work)
2) In that same recovery console I tried to copy hal.dll off the WinXP Pro CD onto the D:\windows\system32\hal.dll to overwrite the file (didn't work)
3) I then decided that I needed to edit the boot.ini file, but with no functioning OS to edit the file with I resorted to my Slackware LiveCD (CD-bootable Ver). I booted to the CD, opened up KWrite and then opened up boot.ini. After making the necessary changes I then tried to save but I got an error telling me I didn't have permission to do so.
4) I tried saving the file to a floppy but it gave me an error on that as well. So I booted to Knoppix 3.1 (CD-bootable), opened up KWrite, edited boot.ini, saved it to a floppy disk and restarted.
5) I used a Win98se boot disk to enter DOS and overwrited the corrupted boot.ini file on the HD with the edited boot.ini I had on the floppy (this step wasn't required as I could've done this from within Knoppix, but I was tired and bleary eyed)
6) Restarted and Everything's OK.

So, what's the moral of this story/guide? Don't edit the boot.ini file or any other major configuration file unless you know exactly what you're doing. I haven't made a mistake like this in quite a while but it only takes one time for you to royally mess up your system.

[Sixpac_XP]

WOW.. good show.. nice that you told us what you did.

Persistance does prevail...

p.s. oh and I like how you used a linux distro to fix a Windows problem... COOL!

[jadison]

I like how you used a linux distro to fix a Windows problem

Yeah, CD-bootable distro's definitely come in handy. I do need to invest more time in learning Linux and reviewing commands (such as dhcpcd to get my inet connection going).

Hope this helps someone else, too.

[muno]

Having w2k/wxp boot disk also helps (that is, you format the floppy in w2k/wxp and copy the necessary files to it, boot.ini, ntdetect.com and ntldr).

I haven't messed up my boot.ini, but someone elses yeah. I got pissed because he was port scanning me all the time.

[Reality_threat]

[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 Professional" /fastdetect

thats right dunno wtf happened,
i edited this from my xp home, r u sure it wasnt Professional Edition

[meese]

All you did was switch the partitions around by changing the boot.ini. I have know idea why you had to go through the steps you did to fix it. You don't need any Linux stuff to do it. Any win98 or me drive needs to use partition (1) or it won't work. XP can boot to any partiton. The boot.ini file was probably located on the 98 partiton. There is more that needs to be done then just changing partitons in any case.

And Reality_threat, what the hell are you talkining about?

[vass0922]

Originally posted by Reality_threat
[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 Professional" /fastdetect

thats right dunno wtf happened,
i edited this from my xp home, r u sure it wasnt Professional Edition

Your setup will be different than Jadison's as his HD is setup differently.

[Bill in SD, CA]

Originally posted by meese
And Reality_threat, what the hell are you talkining about?

Welcome to TechIMO RT!!

Bill