script file error C:\windows\boot.ini

[Amol21]

Hi,
This is a problem with my friends PC.
Whenever he boots with his OS Windows XP just after the log on screen he gets this error message on the center of the desktop saying "Windows Script Host: Can not find script file"
"C:\windows\boot.ini"
I dont know what is this & is it harmful or not
but this error message comes with every time he starts computer & logs in.
Do you guys have seen this error before?

[man-u]

There is no Boot.ini file in the C:\windows directory. There must be an
orphaned start-up entry referring to the c:\windows\boot.ini causing the
Windows Script Host error. To remove the orphaned entry use Microsoft
Autoruns.

Download Autoruns from Microsoft to your Desktop.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys.../autoruns.mspx

Extract the Autoruns Zip file contents to a folder. Double-click
"Autoruns.exe". Click on the "Everything" tab. Remove any entries that
mention "File Not Found" by right-clicking the entry to select Delete.

Also you may want to scan your computer for a second opinion using some web
based virus scanners.

TrendMicro's Housecall
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Kaspersky Web-based Virus Scanner
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner

[Jimmy24]

BOOT.INI is the boot start menu (and other settings) used at boot time for
Windows NTx, XP and MC.

If you are getting this type of error, I would suspect that you have some
some form of infection - perhaps a Torjan etc.

Try turning off "Hide System Files and/or Protected System Files". In
Explorer go to Tools - Folder Options - View. If that doesn't fix it, goto a
CMD prompt in the windows sirectory and unhide files that way. Make sure to
hide these after you are done!!!

I would suggest reviewing the file in Notepad before any NUKING occurs.

A typical BOOT.INI (found in the Root of the Boot Drive) looks something
like this:

<<< START OF BOOT.INI

[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 /NoExecute=alwaysoff

>>> END OF BOOT.INI

The comments "Start and End" are delimiting the contents of Boot.ini and are
not actually in the file.

Hope it helps.