First, exactly what error are you getting? How do you know it can't locate the boot.ini? Was the error?:

If so, there could be several reasons for that, and a missing boot.ini is only one of...

I'm curious. Why do you want to change it? The boot.ini file is used simply for bootup options in 2000 and XP. I can't see how editing it is going to change the function of your system, unless you...

I can't speak for your country house, and these things are difficult to diagnose without seeing them anyway, but you may have plugged in to a digital phone line in Florida with an analog modem. If...

You can use the Custom options of Windows Update to hide that particular update, which means you will no longer be notified,

http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us
...