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boot.ini incorrect

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15 replies

by seadogs

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I have a windows 2000 server that has an issue in the boot.ini folder. When it boots up, it displays windows 2000 and windows 2000 (default) as options. It automatically choses windows 2000 (default). However this option runs into an error. If you manually switch it to the first option, windows 2000, the system boots up fine. Can anyone help me out with the correct syntax? My boot.ini file is below:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT /fastdetect /noserialmice:com2
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Server" /fastdetect /noserialmice:com2

15 replies

by dklippert

One quick way around it is to Right-click My Computer. Choose Properties and then the Advanced tab. Click the Startup and Recovery button and select the default operating system that best works.

by gigelul

In addition to answer1 after you apply it: edits your boot.ini file after you remove "read only" attribute, preserve first 3 lines and delete the rest (attention you said that first options is good-check again before delete this lines)

by gigelul

Generaly this happend when you make a reinstall of the OS. Is safe to delete the unusefully line from boot.ini.

by seadogs

I tried suggestion #1, but there is only one option listed under the boot options. any ideas on how to get them both there?

by thechas

I would manually edit the boot.ini file.

There is a good page on the commands at www.systeminternals.com

There are also several good articles posted at Microsoft's site.
Search on boot.ini and bootcfg

Chas

by joseph moore

If that is your BOOT.INI file, it then just add the description to the default ARC path:

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Server" /fastdetect /noserialmice:com2

by tindog

Correct syntax should normally be:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Server" /fastdetect

Not sure why you would need the "noserialmice" switch, since "fastdetect" replaced that switch.

See Q311578 and Q102873.

by andyrew322

Just an idea...but if you edit the boot.ini by making the default the same as the operating system line it might help
change the default line statement as follows:
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partitition(2)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Server"/fastdetect/noserialmice:com2
This should work. Good luck ( I had a similar problem with a dual boot Win2k/Win98 system)

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