Cannot boot anymore

himrich · #1 September 21st, 2003, 05:22 AM

Oh my, I'm in a fix. I started out installing Windows XP Home Edition over the top of ME and then decided better of this process. I was going to buy another hard drive to install it on and quit the installation. After doing so and then rebooting, the computer would continue to attempt to install XP. I would have to select ME for it to boot normally. Being a novice in the PC world, I did not know how to change this boot sequence. Looked in Setup but only floppy, hard drive and cd are selectable, not the XP install routine. So, I went to System Restore (I had saved a restore point prior to the XP install) and went back to the restore right before running the XP install. The restart following restoring the point I had saved resulted in a crash. I get "Invalid BOOT.INI file, Booting from C:\Windows, NTDETECT failed" flashing on the monitor followed very quickly by another attempt to reboot. This process just continues indefintly. In fact I had to let it go through about 8 boots in order to copy what it was saying since it disappears so fast.

I attempted a SAFE MODE boot but it failed also.

I'm in serious need of help.

Rick

**GretaP** · #2 September 21st, 2003, 06:10 AM

Hi Rick,
Boot from a WIN98 or WINME startup floppy disk, and when you get to the A: prompt, key in:
edit c:\boot.ini
write down the contents of this file in order to post the contents in a reply here.
To exit the Edit window, click on Alt-F, cursor down to Exit and hit ENTER.

himrich · #3 September 21st, 2003, 06:53 AM

[quote=GretaP]Hi Rick,
Boot from a WIN98 or WINME startup floppy disk,
QUOTE]

I can't find the startup floppy disk I created. How do I make one now? I do have access to a neighbors PC. Can I make one from the ME cd?

**GretaP** · #4 September 21st, 2003, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by himrich

I can't find the startup floppy disk I created. How do I make one now? I do have access to a neighbors PC. Can I make one from the ME cd?

Might be quicker to go here and d/load the file to create one by clicking on either the Windows 98 SE OEM link or the Windows ME OEM link, and d/load the file to the hard drive. When the file is d/loaded, put a formatted floppy disk in the drive, then double-click on the d/loaded file in order to create the startup floppy disk.

himrich · #5 September 21st, 2003, 07:13 AM

Thank you very much for your quick reply GretaP.

I have a confession to make. I am writing these posts on my Mac Powerbook sans a floppy drive. So to answer your last post, don't I have to be on a PC with an Internet connection to accomplish that? I don't think I understand what you meant by "d/load the file" since I am not a PC guy.

**GretaP** · #6 September 21st, 2003, 07:15 AM

Guess you might have to use your neighbour's PC, as you'll need a floppy drive.
D/load = Download

himrich · #7 September 21st, 2003, 07:25 AM

Thank you so much for your help.

I will get back to you with your answer first thing tomorrow after getting the floppy disk made.

Rick

**GretaP** · #8 September 21st, 2003, 07:40 AM

You're welcome for the help. I'll check back here tomorrow.

himrich · #9 September 21st, 2003, 06:50 PM

Good morning GretaP!

I got my emergency floppy made and booted from it. It told me I had to revert my restore settings to make my PC right again so I just followed that advice and whola, I'm up and running in ME.

Now, I have to find a new approach to installing XP.

To be honest, it makes me really nervous to work on a PC (remember I am a Mac Head from the get go). I have read it is better to do a clean install, which if I wish to do so on the one hard drive I have requires a complete erase and reformat. I know there are partitioning programs available but don't wish to sink a lot of money into this project. If I wanted to spend another $100 on one of them I may as well go out and buy another hard drive.

Thanks for your help.

Rick

**GretaP** · #10 September 21st, 2003, 07:36 PM

Hey, Rick!
I'm glad that you got the problem sorted out. Now go buy that other hard drive and get XP installed on it!

himrich · #11 September 21st, 2003, 09:37 PM

Almost in the clear however I still have an issue you may be able to help me with. I won't be able to get a new hard drive for a week or so and in the mean time would like to fix another booting issue.

Since my aborted XP installation I am presented with a choice upon booting. The first is "Microsoft Windows XP Install" and the second (which is ME) is "Microsoft Windows." If I don't select the second choice, i.e. Microsoft Windows, I get an attempt to boot into the XP Install and get an error message. I looked to uninstall the XP Install program but can't find a reference to it in the CP. The cd is not in when I boot so why is it looking for the Install program and can I get rid of it?

**GretaP** · #12 September 21st, 2003, 10:27 PM

It's looking for the install program because there is a reference to it now in the boot.ini file. Open the boot.ini file in Notepad and post the contents of it in a reply here.

himrich · #13 September 21st, 2003, 11:00 PM

Where is the boot.ini file? I did a search and nothing came up.

**GretaP** · #14 September 21st, 2003, 11:18 PM

It's in the root directory (C:). It may be a hidden file, so set your folder options to view hidden/system files/folders via My Computer>Tools>Folder Options>View tab

It's also possible, if I'm not mistaken, to first open Notepad then choose to open boot.ini from within Notepad.

himrich · #15 September 21st, 2003, 11:21 PM

Yep, I opened it up via NotePad. Here is what I copied.

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=5
Default=C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT
[Operating Systems]
C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows XP Setup"
C:\="Microsoft Windows"