Invalid Boot.INI corrupt: <Windows 2000 Root>\sys32\NTOSKRNL.EXE

Dell SX 270 PC w/ oneG RAM, W2K Pro SP4 will not boot.

Error message:
Invalid boot.ini
booting from c:\winnt
Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt: <Windows 2000 Root>\sys32\NTOSKRNL.EXE
Please re-install a copy of the above file.

Googled error message but only found boot from cd then run RC. Ran Dell
diagnostics and hardware appears to be fine. Booted from the CD then went
to recovery console but could not maneuver
to replace the file. I believe a duplicate file is stored in dllcache.
Could change directories.

Is the error message caused by a corrupt boot.ini? If so, how can I fix
it?
If I need to replace ntoskrnl.exe how to a replace w/ a current version?

How can I make ERDs for W2K Pro, XP Pro and Win Server 2003?
I don't want to get stuck like this again.

Thanks,

Mike

"Mike" <1234@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:SYtZg.3405$9z6.1572@trndny03...
> Dell SX 270 PC w/ oneG RAM, W2K Pro SP4 will not boot.
>
> Error message:
> Invalid boot.ini
> booting from c:\winnt
> Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or
> corrupt: <Windows 2000 Root>\sys32\NTOSKRNL.EXE
> Please re-install a copy of the above file.
>
> Googled error message but only found boot from cd then run RC. Ran Dell
> diagnostics and hardware appears to be fine. Booted from the CD then went
> to recovery console but could not maneuver
> to replace the file. I believe a duplicate file is stored in dllcache.
> Could change directories.
>
> Is the error message caused by a corrupt boot.ini? If so, how can I fix
> it?
> If I need to replace ntoskrnl.exe how to a replace w/ a current version?
>
> How can I make ERDs for W2K Pro, XP Pro and Win Server 2003?
> I don't want to get stuck like this again.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike
>
> Could change directories

should read could not change directories

"Mike" <1234@yahoo.com> wrote in news:SYtZg.3405$9z6.1572@trndny03:

> Dell SX 270 PC w/ oneG RAM, W2K Pro SP4 will not boot.
>
> Error message:
> Invalid boot.ini
> booting from c:\winnt
> Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or
> corrupt: <Windows 2000 Root>\sys32\NTOSKRNL.EXE
> Please re-install a copy of the above file.
>
> Googled error message but only found boot from cd then run RC. Ran
> Dell diagnostics and hardware appears to be fine. Booted from the CD
> then went to recovery console but could not maneuver
> to replace the file. I believe a duplicate file is stored in dllcache.
> Could change directories.
>
> Is the error message caused by a corrupt boot.ini? If so, how can I
> fix it?
> If I need to replace ntoskrnl.exe how to a replace w/ a current
> version?
>
> How can I make ERDs for W2K Pro, XP Pro and Win Server 2003?
> I don't want to get stuck like this again.

Whenever I have had this message it was actually because it was trying
to boot from a different disk or partition . It gets tricky. Check
your BIOS settings, compare with contents of boot.ini. Might involve
device driver for disk if SATA or SCSI.

--
----------------------------------------------------------------
A L B E R T A Alfred Falk falk@arc.ab.ca
R E S E A R C H Information Systems Dept (780)450-5185
C O U N C I L 250 Karl Clark Road
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
http://www.arc.ab.ca/ T6N 1E4
http://outside.arc.ab.ca/staff/falk/

"Alfred Falk" <falk@arc.REMOVE.ab.ca> wrote in message
news:Xns98607ED2D6167falkarcabca@199.185.223.74...
> "Mike" <1234@yahoo.com> wrote in news:SYtZg.3405$9z6.1572@trndny03:
>
>> Dell SX 270 PC w/ oneG RAM, W2K Pro SP4 will not boot.
>>
>> Error message:
>> Invalid boot.ini
>> booting from c:\winnt
>> Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or
>> corrupt: <Windows 2000 Root>\sys32\NTOSKRNL.EXE
>> Please re-install a copy of the above file.
>>
>> Googled error message but only found boot from cd then run RC. Ran
>> Dell diagnostics and hardware appears to be fine. Booted from the CD
>> then went to recovery console but could not maneuver
>> to replace the file. I believe a duplicate file is stored in dllcache.
>> Could change directories.
>>
>> Is the error message caused by a corrupt boot.ini? If so, how can I
>> fix it?
>> If I need to replace ntoskrnl.exe how to a replace w/ a current
>> version?
>>
>> How can I make ERDs for W2K Pro, XP Pro and Win Server 2003?
>> I don't want to get stuck like this again.
>
> Whenever I have had this message it was actually because it was trying
> to boot from a different disk or partition . It gets tricky. Check
> your BIOS settings, compare with contents of boot.ini. Might involve
> device driver for disk if SATA or SCSI.
>
> --
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> A L B E R T A Alfred Falk falk@arc.ab.ca
> R E S E A R C H Information Systems Dept (780)450-5185
> C O U N C I L 250 Karl Clark Road
> Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
> http://www.arc.ab.ca/ T6N 1E4
> http://outside.arc.ab.ca/staff/falk/

Not sure but I believe it's an IDE HDD drive. Are boot.ini's generic? IHow
can I view the current boot.ini?
The user told me he was attempting to install software then it wouldn't
reboot.

On Wed, 18 Oct 2006 18:00:18 +0000, Mike Has Frothed:

> Dell SX 270 PC w/ oneG RAM, W2K Pro SP4 will not boot.
>
> Error message:
> Invalid boot.ini
> booting from c:\winnt
> Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or
> corrupt: <Windows 2000 Root>\sys32\NTOSKRNL.EXE Please re-install a copy
> of the above file.
>
> Googled error message but only found boot from cd then run RC. Ran Dell
> diagnostics and hardware appears to be fine. Booted from the CD then went
> to recovery console but could not maneuver to replace the file. I believe
> a duplicate file is stored in dllcache. Could change directories.
>
> Is the error message caused by a corrupt boot.ini? If so, how can I fix
> it?
> If I need to replace ntoskrnl.exe how to a replace w/ a current version?
>
> How can I make ERDs for W2K Pro, XP Pro and Win Server 2003? I don't want
> to get stuck like this again.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike

Means the entry in boot.ini that points to the location of ntoskrnl.exe is
invalid. Either it's pointing to the wrong directory, or that directory or
the ntoskrnl.exe files is missing or corrupt.



--
Pierre Salinger Memorial Hook, Line & Sinker, June 2004

COOSN-266-06-25794

You can make a Windows 2000 floppy boot disk and boot the machine with
it. Once booted and logged on it's easy to fix the boot.ini file. For
the purpose of fixing the boot files I find it faster and easier to use
a floppy boot disk than it is to use the Recovery Console. See here for
information: http://www.nu2.nu/bootdisk/ntboot/

You have to make the disk on a Windows NT/2000/XP machine. The disk
will fail if you make it on a Windows 9x machine! Pay attention to the
comments about the Windows installation folder, on Windows 2000 by
default it's WINNT, so the file would look like this:


========================================================================
[boot loader]
timeout=-1
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="First harddisk, first
partition" /sos
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="First harddisk, second
partition" /sos
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINNT="First harddisk, third
partition" /sos
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINNT="First harddisk, fourth
partition" /sos
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINNT="Second harddisk, first
partition" /sos
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINNT="Second harddisk, second
partition" /sos
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="Second harddisk, third
partition" /sos
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(4)\WINNT="Second harddisk, fourth
partition" /sos
C:\="Previous Operating System on C:\"
==========================================================================

You don't need the /sos switch, you could use the /fastdetect switch
instead.

John


Mike wrote:
> Dell SX 270 PC w/ oneG RAM, W2K Pro SP4 will not boot.
>
> Error message:
> Invalid boot.ini
> booting from c:\winnt
> Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or
> corrupt: <Windows 2000 Root>\sys32\NTOSKRNL.EXE
> Please re-install a copy of the above file.
>
> Googled error message but only found boot from cd then run RC. Ran Dell
> diagnostics and hardware appears to be fine. Booted from the CD then went
> to recovery console but could not maneuver
> to replace the file. I believe a duplicate file is stored in dllcache.
> Could change directories.
>
> Is the error message caused by a corrupt boot.ini? If so, how can I fix
> it?
> If I need to replace ntoskrnl.exe how to a replace w/ a current version?
>
> How can I make ERDs for W2K Pro, XP Pro and Win Server 2003?
> I don't want to get stuck like this again.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike
>
>

"Mike" <1234@yahoo.com> wrote in news:f1vZg.5145$5v5.556@trndny08:

>
> "Alfred Falk" <falk@arc.REMOVE.ab.ca> wrote in message
> news:Xns98607ED2D6167falkarcabca@199.185.223.74...
>> "Mike" <1234@yahoo.com> wrote in news:SYtZg.3405$9z6.1572@trndny03:
>>
>>> Dell SX 270 PC w/ oneG RAM, W2K Pro SP4 will not boot.
>>>
>>> Error message:
>>> Invalid boot.ini
>>> booting from c:\winnt
>>> Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing
>>> or corrupt: <Windows 2000 Root>\sys32\NTOSKRNL.EXE
>>> Please re-install a copy of the above file.
>>>
>>> Googled error message but only found boot from cd then run RC. Ran
>>> Dell diagnostics and hardware appears to be fine. Booted from the
>>> CD then went to recovery console but could not maneuver
>>> to replace the file. I believe a duplicate file is stored in
>>> dllcache. Could change directories.
>>>
>>> Is the error message caused by a corrupt boot.ini? If so, how can
>>> I fix it?
>>> If I need to replace ntoskrnl.exe how to a replace w/ a current
>>> version?
>>>
>>> How can I make ERDs for W2K Pro, XP Pro and Win Server 2003?
>>> I don't want to get stuck like this again.
>>
>> Whenever I have had this message it was actually because it was
>> trying to boot from a different disk or partition . It gets tricky.
>> Check your BIOS settings, compare with contents of boot.ini. Might
>> involve device driver for disk if SATA or SCSI.
>
> Not sure but I believe it's an IDE HDD drive. Are boot.ini's generic?
> IHow can I view the current boot.ini?
> The user told me he was attempting to install software then it
> wouldn't reboot.

boot.ini is not generic. It's described in the Resource Kit
documentation. However, IDE boot usually is pretty much generic. You
might take the drive out and connect it as a secondary on another
computer. Then you can look at it and maybe find out what's going on.

--
----------------------------------------------------------------
A L B E R T A Alfred Falk falk@arc.ab.ca
R E S E A R C H Information Systems Dept (780)450-5185
C O U N C I L 250 Karl Clark Road
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
http://www.arc.ab.ca/ T6N 1E4
http://outside.arc.ab.ca/staff/falk/

"John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:ek4mFEv8GHA.2288@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> You can make a Windows 2000 floppy boot disk and boot the machine with it.
> Once booted and logged on it's easy to fix the boot.ini file. For the
> purpose of fixing the boot files I find it faster and easier to use a
> floppy boot disk than it is to use the Recovery Console. See here for
> information: http://www.nu2.nu/bootdisk/ntboot/
>
> You have to make the disk on a Windows NT/2000/XP machine. The disk will
> fail if you make it on a Windows 9x machine! Pay attention to the
> comments about the Windows installation folder, on Windows 2000 by default
> it's WINNT, so the file would look like this:
>
>
> ========================================================================
> [boot loader]
> timeout=-1
> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
> [operating systems]
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="First harddisk, first
> partition" /sos
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="First harddisk, second
> partition" /sos
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINNT="First harddisk, third
> partition" /sos
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINNT="First harddisk, fourth
> partition" /sos
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINNT="Second harddisk, first
> partition" /sos
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINNT="Second harddisk, second
> partition" /sos
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="Second harddisk, third
> partition" /sos
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(4)\WINNT="Second harddisk, fourth
> partition" /sos
> C:\="Previous Operating System on C:\"
> ==========================================================================
>
> You don't need the /sos switch, you could use the /fastdetect switch
> instead.
>
> John
>
>
Just realized it doesn't have a FDD.

Can I burn the files to a CD then boot from the CD?

Mike

"Mike" <1234@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:d5zZg.5275$NK5.4841@trnddc08...

>>
>>
>> ========================================================================
>> [boot loader]
>> timeout=-1
>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
>> [operating systems]
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="First harddisk, first
>> partition" /sos
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="First harddisk, second
>> partition" /sos
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINNT="First harddisk, third
>> partition" /sos
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINNT="First harddisk, fourth
>> partition" /sos
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINNT="Second harddisk, first
>> partition" /sos
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINNT="Second harddisk, second
>> partition" /sos
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="Second harddisk, third
>> partition" /sos
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(4)\WINNT="Second harddisk, fourth
>> partition" /sos
>> C:\="Previous Operating System on C:\"
>> ==========================================================================
W2K is in C:\WINNT so shoulod the line read C:\=windows2000 on C:\


Mike

Mike wrote:

> "Mike" <1234@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:d5zZg.5275$NK5.4841@trnddc08...
>
>
>>>
>>>========================================================================
>>>[boot loader]
>>>timeout=-1
>>>default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
>>>[operating systems]
>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="First harddisk, first
>>>partition" /sos
>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="First harddisk, second
>>>partition" /sos
>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINNT="First harddisk, third
>>>partition" /sos
>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINNT="First harddisk, fourth
>>>partition" /sos
>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINNT="Second harddisk, first
>>>partition" /sos
>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINNT="Second harddisk, second
>>>partition" /sos
>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="Second harddisk, third
>>>partition" /sos
>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(4)\WINNT="Second harddisk, fourth
>>>partition" /sos
>>>C:\="Previous Operating System on C:\"
>>>==========================================================================
>
> W2K is in C:\WINNT so shoulod the line read C:\=windows2000 on C:\
>
>
> Mike

No, that line is to boot earlier DOS, Windows 95/98/ME operating
systems. It's not needed for NT systems, you can remove it if you want.
But I did make a mistake in the first (default=) line, I didn't change
the WINDOWS folder to WINNT. The line should read:

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT

John

Mike wrote:

> "John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
> news:ek4mFEv8GHA.2288@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
>>You can make a Windows 2000 floppy boot disk and boot the machine with it.
>>Once booted and logged on it's easy to fix the boot.ini file. For the
>>purpose of fixing the boot files I find it faster and easier to use a
>>floppy boot disk than it is to use the Recovery Console. See here for
>>information: http://www.nu2.nu/bootdisk/ntboot/
>>
>>You have to make the disk on a Windows NT/2000/XP machine. The disk will
>>fail if you make it on a Windows 9x machine! Pay attention to the
>>comments about the Windows installation folder, on Windows 2000 by default
>>it's WINNT, so the file would look like this:
>>
>>
>>========================================================================
>>[boot loader]
>>timeout=-1
>>default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
>>[operating systems]
>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="First harddisk, first
>>partition" /sos
>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="First harddisk, second
>>partition" /sos
>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINNT="First harddisk, third
>>partition" /sos
>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINNT="First harddisk, fourth
>>partition" /sos
>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINNT="Second harddisk, first
>>partition" /sos
>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINNT="Second harddisk, second
>>partition" /sos
>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="Second harddisk, third
>>partition" /sos
>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(4)\WINNT="Second harddisk, fourth
>>partition" /sos
>>C:\="Previous Operating System on C:\"
>>==========================================================================
>>
>>You don't need the /sos switch, you could use the /fastdetect switch
>>instead.
>>
>>John
>>
>>
>
> Just realized it doesn't have a FDD.
>
> Can I burn the files to a CD then boot from the CD?
>
> Mike

No, I don't think so. At least not that I know of, I suppose if someone
tried to burn it to a bootable cd it might work but I have never heard
or read on anyone doing it with just these 3 files. Boot cd's are
usually a bit more elaborate.

You could use something like this: http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ or
this: http://www.nu2.nu/bootablecd/ or a Linus live cd. These are a
bit more involved than making a boot diskette, big images to download
and burn. If the pc can boot from a USB diskette you can use that.
Otherwise you will have to use the Recovery Console or the repair
process and the ERD.

You can also use a Windows 9x boot cd providing that you have an ntfs
editor like EditBINI to edit the file if it's on an NTFS partition.
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/utilities.html

John

"John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:eCfY7iy8GHA.3264@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Mike wrote:
>
>> "Mike" <1234@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:d5zZg.5275$NK5.4841@trnddc08...
>>
>>
>>>>
>>>>========================================================================
>>>>[boot loader]
>>>>timeout=-1
>>>>default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
>>>>[operating systems]
>>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="First harddisk, first
>>>>partition" /sos
>>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="First harddisk, second
>>>>partition" /sos
>>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINNT="First harddisk, third
>>>>partition" /sos
>>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINNT="First harddisk, fourth
>>>>partition" /sos
>>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINNT="Second harddisk, first
>>>>partition" /sos
>>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINNT="Second harddisk, second
>>>>partition" /sos
>>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="Second harddisk, third
>>>>partition" /sos
>>>>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(4)\WINNT="Second harddisk, fourth
>>>>partition" /sos
>>>>C:\="Previous Operating System on C:\"
>>>>==========================================================================
>>
>> W2K is in C:\WINNT so shoulod the line read C:\=windows2000 on C:\
>>
>>
>> Mike
>
> No, that line is to boot earlier DOS, Windows 95/98/ME operating systems.
> It's not needed for NT systems, you can remove it if you want. But I did
> make a mistake in the first (default=) line, I didn't change the WINDOWS
> folder to WINNT. The line should read:
>
> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
>
> John

Thanks, I believe it has only one HDD and one partition.

Mike

"John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:OWQ9u1y8GHA.3264@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Mike wrote:
>>>>
>>
>> Just realized it doesn't have a FDD.
>>
>> Can I burn the files to a CD then boot from the CD?
>>
>> Mike
>
> No, I don't think so. At least not that I know of, I suppose if someone
> tried to burn it to a bootable cd it might work but I have never heard or
> read on anyone doing it with just these 3 files. Boot cd's are usually a
> bit more elaborate.
>
> You could use something like this: http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ or
> this: http://www.nu2.nu/bootablecd/ or a Linus live cd. These are a bit
> more involved than making a boot diskette, big images to download and
> burn. If the pc can boot from a USB diskette you can use that. Otherwise
> you will have to use the Recovery Console or the repair process and the
> ERD.
>
> You can also use a Windows 9x boot cd providing that you have an ntfs
> editor like EditBINI to edit the file if it's on an NTFS partition.
> http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/utilities.html

It also needs whatever files are needed to allow me to move around to
different directories
and copy files. I've got a W2K Dell repair CD that I've booted from but I
could move around to
different directories so I can copy files.

Mike

Mike wrote:

> "John John" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
> news:OWQ9u1y8GHA.3264@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
>>Mike wrote:
>>
>>>Just realized it doesn't have a FDD.
>>>
>>>Can I burn the files to a CD then boot from the CD?
>>>
>>>Mike
>>
>>No, I don't think so. At least not that I know of, I suppose if someone
>>tried to burn it to a bootable cd it might work but I have never heard or
>>read on anyone doing it with just these 3 files. Boot cd's are usually a
>>bit more elaborate.
>>
>>You could use something like this: http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ or
>>this: http://www.nu2.nu/bootablecd/ or a Linus live cd. These are a bit
>>more involved than making a boot diskette, big images to download and
>>burn. If the pc can boot from a USB diskette you can use that. Otherwise
>>you will have to use the Recovery Console or the repair process and the
>>ERD.
>>
>>You can also use a Windows 9x boot cd providing that you have an ntfs
>>editor like EditBINI to edit the file if it's on an NTFS partition.
>>http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/utilities.html
>
>
> It also needs whatever files are needed to allow me to move around to
> different directories
> and copy files. I've got a W2K Dell repair CD that I've booted from but I
> could move around to
> different directories so I can copy files.

I'm not sure what you mean. Did you make a typo in your reply, is it
"could" or "couldn't" move around? In the Recovery Console your access
to directories is restricted to hard disk roots, the %systemroot%
(\winnt) folder and the %systemroot%\system32 folder. That is a
security feature by design. To repair a "standard" Windows 2000
installation these are the only folders that you would or should need to
access from the Recovery Console. If you are trying to do it from a
Windows 9x/DOS boot all you need to edit the boot.ini file is the
EditBINI utility. From a DOS/Windows 9x boot obviously you won't be
able to access an NTFS drive but that is beside the point here, unless
there is more than the boot.ini file involved.

Is this a laptop? Or is it a desktop/tower? If the latter then you can
just stick a floppy disk drive in the machine, even if only temporarilly
to try to boot the machine. Borrow a diskette drive from another
machine, or better yet fit a new one to the box! They only cost about
ten to fifteen dollars!

John

Mike enlightened us 24hoursupport.helpdesk-(ab)users with:

.....
> It also needs whatever files are needed to allow me to move around to
> different directories
> and copy files. I've got a W2K Dell repair CD that I've booted from
> but I could move around to
> different directories so I can copy files.
>
You can our you cannot?
What you surely can do with a RD, is to chkdsk. Do that first.
Next time when you are lucky and back up, use gpedit.msc - security
settings and allow what you need for the RC next time.
Or torrent one of the nice winPE cds which contain a lot of useful
recovery programs. Sometime you get them with a computer magazine as
well, without the non-free programs.
--
vista policy violation: Microsoft optical mouse found penguin patterns
on mousepad. Partition scan in progress to remove offending
incompatible products. Reactivate MS software.
Linux 2.6.17-mm1,Xorg7.1/nvidia [LinuxCounter#295241,ICQ#4918962]