Member Avatar for stormrider

my pc cannot locate the boot.ini file?
pc cannot find the boot.ini file and is not loading my normal desktop settings. I have lost most of my icons. My pc no longer asks me to logon. I am running Windows 2000 professional. Would appreciate any help, thank you

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The “Invalid boot.ini” message means the Windows boot loader (NTLDR) couldn’t use the ARC path it found, so it may be falling back to whatever WINNT/WINDOWS folder it can reach. That would explain why the machine still loads a desktop but not your usual icons or logon behavior — it’s likely running a different installation or loading the default profile. was right to ask for the exact error, and and gave the correct first checks (look in C:\ and show protected/hidden files). A correct Boot.ini looks like this example (Windows 2000): 

[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

(official Boot.ini guidance). (learn.microsoft.com)

Before changing anything, gather evidence: in Windows turn on “show hidden and protected OS files”, copy C:\boot.ini to a text file and paste the content here (don’t alter it), confirm which folder Windows is using by running Start -> Run -> cmd then echo %systemroot%, and check that C:\Documents and Settings\<yourname> exists. If the ARC path in Boot.ini points to the wrong partition (or the file is corrupt) you’ll see exactly the symptoms you described.

If Boot.ini is missing or invalid, repair it from the Recovery Console on the Windows 2000 CD: boot from CD, press R at Setup, select the installation and enter the Administrator password. Then run:

bootcfg /rebuild
fixboot c:
fixmbr
chkdsk /p /r

bootcfg /rebuild scans and rebuilds the Boot.ini entries; fixboot and fixmbr repair the partition boot sector and MBR. Use chkdsk to fix filesystem corruption that could be causing a bad Boot.ini. (learn.microsoft.com)

Cautions: do not run fixmbr if the PC uses a non‑Windows boot loader (Linux, GRUB, LILO) unless you want MBR overwritten. If you’re unsure, post the contents of your C:\boot.ini and whether the PC ever ran multiple OSes; include the exact text you see at boot. That will let others on this thread give a precise edited Boot.ini or the next safe step. (lifewire.com)

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Member Avatar for Omahabob

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

Invalid Boot.ini

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

Windows\System32\Hal.dll

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

Second, have you booted to CD and checked to see if the file exists on your C: drive (the default location)? If the file exists, have you examined the content to make sure it is correct?

Third, have you tried using the Recovery Console on the CD to restore the boot files?

Member Avatar for stormrider

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 them.

Second, have you booted to CD and checked to see if the file exists on your C: drive (the default location)? If the file exists, have you examined the content to make sure it is correct?

Third, have you tried using the Recovery Console on the CD to restore the boot files?

When I boot my pc the black dos screen appears with the message:
Invalid boot.ini file
booting from c:/winnt/ then it goes to the desktop, but not with my icons. Also it does not ask me to log in. Any help is appreciated.

Member Avatar for stormrider

When I boot my pc the black dos screen appears with the message:
Invalid boot.ini file
booting from c:/winnt/ then it goes to the desktop, but not with my icons. Also it does not ask me to log in. Any help is appreciated.

Member Avatar for Ancient Dragon

boot.ini file is normally in the c:\ root directory. In Explorer turn on the option to see hidden and system files if you need to, then check the root directory to see if it is there. If it is, send it to Notepad and paste the contents to your respose in this thread so we can see it. Make sure you do NOT change the contents of that file!

Member Avatar for gerbil

...you will also have to uncheck "hide protected operating system files" under explorer folder options/view. Then open a clean notepad, and drag C:\boot.ini into it. Then you might go back and recheck that box...

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