windowssystem32hal.dll or HAL.DLL

[colin trunt]

"John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:uowuzZy1KHA.2156@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Colin Trunt wrote:
>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
>> news:O88cbNx1KHA.6104@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>
>>>> I can boot either normally or to recovery as llong as I don't
>>>> mess about to much and do it directly.
>>> What exactly does that mean? Mess about with what and what do you mean
>>> by "do it directly"? If the Recovery Console is installed you get a
>>> boot menu when you boot the computer and you select to boot the Recovery
>>> Console or the Windows installation, what is there to mess about with
>>> there and what is there to do directly other than selecting which option
>>> to boot?
>>>
>>> How many hard disks do you have and how many partitions do you have on
>>> these hard disks? Where is the Windows installation and where is the
>>> Command Console installed? To avoid confusion please don't use the term
>>> "drive" when answering, use the terms "Hard Disk" and "Partition".
>>>
>>> John
>>
>> First I get a screen which says hit f10 for recovery,
>
> That (F10) has nothing really to do with Windows per se, it's a factory
> restore thing.


What is a factory restore?
What does that do?


>
>> then it goes to a choice
>>
>> 1)windows
>> 2)recovey
>> 3)ubuntu
>
> Is that *after* pressing the F10 key? Or does it go to this menu without
> pressing the F10 key? Did you install Ubunto, is the above a Lilo/Grub
> boot menu? Or is it the Windows boot menu?
>
> You didn't answer my question about your hard disks and partitions... I
> need this information to offer additional help.
>
> Also, while booted to the Windows installation could you please run this
> command at a Command Prompt and post the results of the command:
>
> set system
>
> John
>

I normally wait and it goes to the menu by itself however
sometime I have hit f10 but I may not have hit it fast enough and it would
in that case go to the menu as if I had hit f10 to make it go there.
Thats what it seems like anyway.


I think what often happens is I got to option 2 for recovery and then
change my mind, then when I select option one for normal boot
I get the hal.dll error.

[colin trunt]

"John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:O8Y2qNz1KHA.4724@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Colin Trunt wrote:
>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
>> news:e%23YfUgy1KHA.3744@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>> "Colin Trunt" <colin@trunt.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:xflvn.2326$LS2.1843@newsfe13.ams2...
>>>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>>>> news:O88cbNx1KHA.6104@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I can boot either normally or to recovery as llong as I don't
>>>>>>> mess about to much and do it directly.
>>>>>> What exactly does that mean? Mess about with what and what do you
>>>>>> mean by "do it directly"? If the Recovery Console is installed you
>>>>>> get a boot menu when you boot the computer and you select to boot the
>>>>>> Recovery Console or the Windows installation, what is there to mess
>>>>>> about with there and what is there to do directly other than
>>>>>> selecting which option to boot?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> How many hard disks do you have and how many partitions do you have
>>>>>> on these hard disks? Where is the Windows installation and where is
>>>>>> the Command Console installed? To avoid confusion please don't use
>>>>>> the term "drive" when answering, use the terms "Hard Disk" and
>>>>>> "Partition".
>>>>>>
>>>>>> John
>>>>> First I get a screen which says hit f10 for recovery, then it goes to
>>>>> a choice
>>>>> 1)windows
>>>>> 2)recovey
>>>>> 3)ubuntu
>>>> my boot.ini
>>>>
>>>> [boot loader]
>>>> timeout=15
>>>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
>>>> [operating systems]
>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
>>>> Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>> Comes back to the question of how many hard disks and partitions do you
>>> have and where exactly is Windows installed. Also, where is this
>>> boot.ini file located? (on which hard disk and on which partition?)
>>>
>>> Also need the results of the set system command.
>>>
>>> The problem is most likely due to an incorrect ARC path in the boot.ini
>>> file.
>>>
>>> John
>>
>> This is the boot.ini on drive d: (recovery drive)
>>
>> [boot loader]
>> timeout=15
>> default=C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT
>> [operating systems]
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>> Professional" /fastdetect
>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ah......im thinking
>>
>> I don;t know what happens at startup.
>>
>> Anyway partion 2 is c: I think and 1 is d:
>> When I list then in disk management they are show as d: then c :
>> in the bottom rigt panel
>
> Pulling a tooth from an angry lion would be easier than obtaining
> information from you... one more try:
>
>
> 1- How many physical hard disks do you have in the computer?
>
> 2- How many partitions do you have on each hard disk?
>
> 3- Please post the results of the SET SYSTEM command.
>
> Also, you are posting different variations of the boot.ini file, Windows
> only uses one boot.ini file. When you run the SET SYSTEM command it will
> return a line telling you:
>
> SystemDrive=?:
>
> (? will be C or D ...or ...) the correct boot.ini file will be in the
> root of the specified SystemDrive, for example C:\ or D:\ . Please post
> the contents of the correct boot.ini file.
>
> John


two phyisical drives
one has partitios d: and c:
other is f: one parition f:

There is an ini on both c: and d: as posted, they are different.

ALLUSERSPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
APPDATA=C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Application Data
CLASSPATH=.;C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
CLIENTNAME=Console
CommonProgramFiles=C:\Program Files\Common Files
COMPUTERNAME=ZAX
ComSpec=C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe
DJGPP=c:\djgpp\djgpp.env
FP_NO_HOST_CHECK=NO
HOMEDRIVE=C:
HOMEPATH=\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner
LOGONSERVER=\\ZAX
NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS=1
OS=Windows_NT
Path=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;c:\Python22;C:\Program
Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel;C:\Program
Files\QuickTime\QTSystem\;C:\MinGW\bin;
PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH
PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=x86
PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER=x86 Family 15 Model 47 Stepping 2, AuthenticAMD
PROCESSOR_LEVEL=15
PROCESSOR_REVISION=2f02
ProgramFiles=C:\Program Files
PROMPT=$P$G
QTJAVA=C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
SAN_DIR=C:\Program Files\SiSoftware\SiSoftware Sandra Lite XII.SP2c
SESSIONNAME=Console
SonicCentral=c:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic Shared\Sonic Central\
SystemDrive=C:
SystemRoot=C:\WINDOWS
TEMP=C:\DOCUME~1\HP_Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
TMP=C:\DOCUME~1\HP_Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
USERDOMAIN=ZAX
USERNAME=HP_Owner
USERPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner
windir=C:\WINDOWS
__COMPAT_LAYER=DisableNXShowUI



c:boot.ini[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"



d: boot.ini
[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"


Note it seems c: is partition 2

I am not syre if the d:boot.ini is ever used, there is no windows directory
on d:
there is I386 though, all the folders are locked

[john john - mvp]

Colin Trunt wrote:
> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
> news:O8Y2qNz1KHA.4724@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>> news:e%23YfUgy1KHA.3744@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>> "Colin Trunt" <colin@trunt.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:xflvn.2326$LS2.1843@newsfe13.ams2...
>>>>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:O88cbNx1KHA.6104@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I can boot either normally or to recovery as llong as I don't
>>>>>>>> mess about to much and do it directly.
>>>>>>> What exactly does that mean? Mess about with what and what do you
>>>>>>> mean by "do it directly"? If the Recovery Console is installed you
>>>>>>> get a boot menu when you boot the computer and you select to boot the
>>>>>>> Recovery Console or the Windows installation, what is there to mess
>>>>>>> about with there and what is there to do directly other than
>>>>>>> selecting which option to boot?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> How many hard disks do you have and how many partitions do you have
>>>>>>> on these hard disks? Where is the Windows installation and where is
>>>>>>> the Command Console installed? To avoid confusion please don't use
>>>>>>> the term "drive" when answering, use the terms "Hard Disk" and
>>>>>>> "Partition".
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> John
>>>>>> First I get a screen which says hit f10 for recovery, then it goes to
>>>>>> a choice
>>>>>> 1)windows
>>>>>> 2)recovey
>>>>>> 3)ubuntu
>>>>> my boot.ini
>>>>>
>>>>> [boot loader]
>>>>> timeout=15
>>>>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
>>>>> [operating systems]
>>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
>>>>> Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>>>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>>> Comes back to the question of how many hard disks and partitions do you
>>>> have and where exactly is Windows installed. Also, where is this
>>>> boot.ini file located? (on which hard disk and on which partition?)
>>>>
>>>> Also need the results of the set system command.
>>>>
>>>> The problem is most likely due to an incorrect ARC path in the boot.ini
>>>> file.
>>>>
>>>> John
>>> This is the boot.ini on drive d: (recovery drive)
>>>
>>> [boot loader]
>>> timeout=15
>>> default=C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT
>>> [operating systems]
>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>>> Professional" /fastdetect
>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ah......im thinking
>>>
>>> I don;t know what happens at startup.
>>>
>>> Anyway partion 2 is c: I think and 1 is d:
>>> When I list then in disk management they are show as d: then c :
>>> in the bottom rigt panel
>> Pulling a tooth from an angry lion would be easier than obtaining
>> information from you... one more try:
>>
>>
>> 1- How many physical hard disks do you have in the computer?
>>
>> 2- How many partitions do you have on each hard disk?
>>
>> 3- Please post the results of the SET SYSTEM command.
>>
>> Also, you are posting different variations of the boot.ini file, Windows
>> only uses one boot.ini file. When you run the SET SYSTEM command it will
>> return a line telling you:
>>
>> SystemDrive=?:
>>
>> (? will be C or D ...or ...) the correct boot.ini file will be in the
>> root of the specified SystemDrive, for example C:\ or D:\ . Please post
>> the contents of the correct boot.ini file.
>>
>> John
>
>
> two phyisical drives
> one has partitios d: and c:
> other is f: one parition f:
>
> There is an ini on both c: and d: as posted, they are different.
>
> ALLUSERSPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
> APPDATA=C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Application Data
> CLASSPATH=.;C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
> CLIENTNAME=Console
> CommonProgramFiles=C:\Program Files\Common Files
> COMPUTERNAME=ZAX
> ComSpec=C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe
> DJGPP=c:\djgpp\djgpp.env
> FP_NO_HOST_CHECK=NO
> HOMEDRIVE=C:
> HOMEPATH=\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner
> LOGONSERVER=\\ZAX
> NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS=1
> OS=Windows_NT
> Path=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;c:\Python22;C:\Program
> Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel;C:\Program
> Files\QuickTime\QTSystem\;C:\MinGW\bin;
> PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH
> PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=x86
> PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER=x86 Family 15 Model 47 Stepping 2, AuthenticAMD
> PROCESSOR_LEVEL=15
> PROCESSOR_REVISION=2f02
> ProgramFiles=C:\Program Files
> PROMPT=$P$G
> QTJAVA=C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
> SAN_DIR=C:\Program Files\SiSoftware\SiSoftware Sandra Lite XII.SP2c
> SESSIONNAME=Console
> SonicCentral=c:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic Shared\Sonic Central\
> SystemDrive=C:
> SystemRoot=C:\WINDOWS
> TEMP=C:\DOCUME~1\HP_Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
> TMP=C:\DOCUME~1\HP_Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
> USERDOMAIN=ZAX
> USERNAME=HP_Owner
> USERPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner
> windir=C:\WINDOWS
> __COMPAT_LAYER=DisableNXShowUI
>
>
>
> c:boot.ini[boot loader]
> timeout=15
> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
> [operating systems]
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
> Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"

Do you get a brief error message telling you that the boot.ini file is
invalid when you boot Windows? Modify your c:\boot.ini file as such (to
avoid errors you can copy and paste):

timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Partion 1 Microsoft Windows
XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Partition 2 Microsoft
Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Phoney Baloney Operating
System" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"

The changes above are obvious enough, when you boot the computer you
will see the "Phoney Baloney Operating System" in the boot menu, this
will confirm that you are indeed using the boot.ini file on C: Try
booting the "Partition 1 Microsoft..." and the "Partition 2
Microsoft..." and see what happens. Also try booting the Recovery
Console. After you confirm the proper Windows boot partition we can
modify the boot.ini file again and remove the invalid entries.




> Note it seems c: is partition 2

I don't think so, I think that it is partition 1 and that you get the
error when you boot the Command Console because the boot.ini file on C:
points to the wrong partition.

Do you see C: as partition 2 in the Disk Management Tool? To open the
Disk Management tool enter diskmgmt.msc in the Start Menu Run box.
You can also verify this at the Command Prompt with the Diskpart utility.

> I am not syre if the d:boot.ini is ever used, there is no windows directory
> on d:
> there is I386 though, all the folders are locked

The SystemDrive=C: above tells us that the c:\boot.ini file is the one
used to boot the system, I don't know why you have this boot.ini file on
D:\... But I think that it does have the correct ARC path and that the
one on C: has an improper path, try the modified boot.ini file and then
report your findings.

John

[colin trunt]

"John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:OGcvyI11KHA.5880@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
> Colin Trunt wrote:
>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
>> news:O8Y2qNz1KHA.4724@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>>> news:e%23YfUgy1KHA.3744@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>>> "Colin Trunt" <colin@trunt.com> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:xflvn.2326$LS2.1843@newsfe13.ams2...
>>>>>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>>>>>> news:O88cbNx1KHA.6104@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I can boot either normally or to recovery as llong as I don't
>>>>>>>>> mess about to much and do it directly.
>>>>>>>> What exactly does that mean? Mess about with what and what do you
>>>>>>>> mean by "do it directly"? If the Recovery Console is installed you
>>>>>>>> get a boot menu when you boot the computer and you select to boot
>>>>>>>> the Recovery Console or the Windows installation, what is there to
>>>>>>>> mess about with there and what is there to do directly other than
>>>>>>>> selecting which option to boot?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> How many hard disks do you have and how many partitions do you have
>>>>>>>> on these hard disks? Where is the Windows installation and where
>>>>>>>> is the Command Console installed? To avoid confusion please don't
>>>>>>>> use the term "drive" when answering, use the terms "Hard Disk" and
>>>>>>>> "Partition".
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> John
>>>>>>> First I get a screen which says hit f10 for recovery, then it goes
>>>>>>> to a choice
>>>>>>> 1)windows
>>>>>>> 2)recovey
>>>>>>> 3)ubuntu
>>>>>> my boot.ini
>>>>>>
>>>>>> [boot loader]
>>>>>> timeout=15
>>>>>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
>>>>>> [operating systems]
>>>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>>>>>> Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>>>>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>>>> Comes back to the question of how many hard disks and partitions do
>>>>> you have and where exactly is Windows installed. Also, where is this
>>>>> boot.ini file located? (on which hard disk and on which partition?)
>>>>>
>>>>> Also need the results of the set system command.
>>>>>
>>>>> The problem is most likely due to an incorrect ARC path in the
>>>>> boot.ini file.
>>>>>
>>>>> John
>>>> This is the boot.ini on drive d: (recovery drive)
>>>>
>>>> [boot loader]
>>>> timeout=15
>>>> default=C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT
>>>> [operating systems]
>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>>>> Professional" /fastdetect
>>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ah......im thinking
>>>>
>>>> I don;t know what happens at startup.
>>>>
>>>> Anyway partion 2 is c: I think and 1 is d:
>>>> When I list then in disk management they are show as d: then c :
>>>> in the bottom rigt panel
>>> Pulling a tooth from an angry lion would be easier than obtaining
>>> information from you... one more try:
>>>
>>>
>>> 1- How many physical hard disks do you have in the computer?
>>>
>>> 2- How many partitions do you have on each hard disk?
>>>
>>> 3- Please post the results of the SET SYSTEM command.
>>>
>>> Also, you are posting different variations of the boot.ini file, Windows
>>> only uses one boot.ini file. When you run the SET SYSTEM command it
>>> will return a line telling you:
>>>
>>> SystemDrive=?:
>>>
>>> (? will be C or D ...or ...) the correct boot.ini file will be in the
>>> root of the specified SystemDrive, for example C:\ or D:\ . Please post
>>> the contents of the correct boot.ini file.
>>>
>>> John
>>
>>
>> two phyisical drives
>> one has partitios d: and c:
>> other is f: one parition f:
>>
>> There is an ini on both c: and d: as posted, they are different.
>>
>> ALLUSERSPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
>> APPDATA=C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Application Data
>> CLASSPATH=.;C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
>> CLIENTNAME=Console
>> CommonProgramFiles=C:\Program Files\Common Files
>> COMPUTERNAME=ZAX
>> ComSpec=C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe
>> DJGPP=c:\djgpp\djgpp.env
>> FP_NO_HOST_CHECK=NO
>> HOMEDRIVE=C:
>> HOMEPATH=\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner
>> LOGONSERVER=\\ZAX
>> NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS=1
>> OS=Windows_NT
>> Path=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;c:\Python22;C:\Program
>> Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel;C:\Program
>> Files\QuickTime\QTSystem\;C:\MinGW\bin;
>> PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH
>> PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=x86
>> PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER=x86 Family 15 Model 47 Stepping 2, AuthenticAMD
>> PROCESSOR_LEVEL=15
>> PROCESSOR_REVISION=2f02
>> ProgramFiles=C:\Program Files
>> PROMPT=$P$G
>> QTJAVA=C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
>> SAN_DIR=C:\Program Files\SiSoftware\SiSoftware Sandra Lite XII.SP2c
>> SESSIONNAME=Console
>> SonicCentral=c:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic Shared\Sonic Central\
>> SystemDrive=C:
>> SystemRoot=C:\WINDOWS
>> TEMP=C:\DOCUME~1\HP_Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
>> TMP=C:\DOCUME~1\HP_Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
>> USERDOMAIN=ZAX
>> USERNAME=HP_Owner
>> USERPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner
>> windir=C:\WINDOWS
>> __COMPAT_LAYER=DisableNXShowUI
>>
>>
>>
>> c:boot.ini[boot loader]
>> timeout=15
>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
>> [operating systems]
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
>> Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>
> Do you get a brief error message telling you that the boot.ini file is
> invalid when you boot Windows? Modify your c:\boot.ini file as such (to
> avoid errors you can copy and paste):


No I never get any errors on a normal boot, none whatsoever.
The only time I have had error is when I try to do a recovery, there
seems to be two paths to recovery.

The only time I have ever got an error is when I have selected option 2 for
recovery, but 'bottled out' and decided to boot normally, this brings back
the
boot menu IIRC, and IIRC when I press 1 for a normal boot I get the hal.dll
error. That's the only time I get it on a normal boot.

I suspect doing it that way may cause it to look on drive d: for hal.dll
and it won't find it there, as it has no windows folder on it.

I don't recall an error message about boot.ini at all, although there is
a small possibilty I might have missed it but I doubt it.

>
> timeout=15
> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
> [operating systems]
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Partion 1 Microsoft Windows
> XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Partition 2 Microsoft Windows
> XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Phoney Baloney Operating
> System" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>
> The changes above are obvious enough, when you boot the computer you will
> see the "Phoney Baloney Operating System" in the boot menu, this will
> confirm that you are indeed using the boot.ini file on C: Try booting the
> "Partition 1 Microsoft..." and the "Partition 2 Microsoft..." and see what
> happens. Also try booting the Recovery Console. After you confirm the
> proper Windows boot partition we can modify the boot.ini file again and
> remove the invalid entries.
>
>
>
>
>> Note it seems c: is partition 2
>
> I don't think so, I think that it is partition 1 and that you get the
> error when you boot the Command Console because the boot.ini file on C:
> points to the wrong partition.


I don't get that error, at least not all the time, I have booted into the
Command Console before it must be the right partition I would imagine.
Also the way it is listed in disk management suggests partition 1 is d:

When I google images of "disk management"
http://images.google.co.uk/images?um=1& ... =0&ndsp=18

I can see mine is different, d: comes before c:



>
> Do you see C: as partition 2 in the Disk Management Tool? To open the
> Disk Management tool enter diskmgmt.msc in the Start Menu Run box. You
> can also verify this at the Command Prompt with the Diskpart utility.

Disk part confirms partition 2 is 69GB, and that's the size of C:
It says partion 1 is 6164MB which is the smaller recovery partition d:


SO I think that's established what partion is what, thus partion 2 is c:

>
>> I am not syre if the d:boot.ini is ever used, there is no windows
>> directory on d:
>> there is I386 though, all the folders are locked
>
> The SystemDrive=C: above tells us that the c:\boot.ini file is the one
> used to boot the system, I don't know why you have this boot.ini file on
> D:\... But I think that it does have the correct ARC path and that the one
> on C: has an improper path, try the modified boot.ini file and then report
> your findings.
>
> John

Well I may change those ini files on c: presumably between the quotes
is just a comment, so I can change without fear of damage?

I will just stick a part 1 in or whatever so I can see what is what.

I am reluctant to do anything more yet because I am worried I might
not be able to boot up at all?


What if I make changes and it won't boot?

How do I change the boot.ini then?

I need to know that really.

[colin trunt]

"John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
news:%23z32bB41KHA.3320@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Colin Trunt wrote:
>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
>> news:OGcvyI11KHA.5880@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>>> news:O8Y2qNz1KHA.4724@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:e%23YfUgy1KHA.3744@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>>>>> "Colin Trunt" <colin@trunt.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>>> news:xflvn.2326$LS2.1843@newsfe13.ams2...
>>>>>>>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>> news:O88cbNx1KHA.6104@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> I can boot either normally or to recovery as llong as I don't
>>>>>>>>>>> mess about to much and do it directly.
>>>>>>>>>> What exactly does that mean? Mess about with what and what do
>>>>>>>>>> you mean by "do it directly"? If the Recovery Console is
>>>>>>>>>> installed you get a boot menu when you boot the computer and you
>>>>>>>>>> select to boot the Recovery Console or the Windows installation,
>>>>>>>>>> what is there to mess about with there and what is there to do
>>>>>>>>>> directly other than selecting which option to boot?
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> How many hard disks do you have and how many partitions do you
>>>>>>>>>> have on these hard disks? Where is the Windows installation and
>>>>>>>>>> where is the Command Console installed? To avoid confusion
>>>>>>>>>> please don't use the term "drive" when answering, use the terms
>>>>>>>>>> "Hard Disk" and "Partition".
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> John
>>>>>>>>> First I get a screen which says hit f10 for recovery, then it goes
>>>>>>>>> to a choice
>>>>>>>>> 1)windows
>>>>>>>>> 2)recovey
>>>>>>>>> 3)ubuntu
>>>>>>>> my boot.ini
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> [boot loader]
>>>>>>>> timeout=15
>>>>>>>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
>>>>>>>> [operating systems]
>>>>>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>>>>>>>> Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>>>>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console"
>>>>>>>> /cmdcons
>>>>>>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>>>>>> Comes back to the question of how many hard disks and partitions do
>>>>>>> you have and where exactly is Windows installed. Also, where is
>>>>>>> this boot.ini file located? (on which hard disk and on which
>>>>>>> partition?)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Also need the results of the set system command.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The problem is most likely due to an incorrect ARC path in the
>>>>>>> boot.ini file.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> John
>>>>>> This is the boot.ini on drive d: (recovery drive)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> [boot loader]
>>>>>> timeout=15
>>>>>> default=C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT
>>>>>> [operating systems]
>>>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>>>>>> Professional" /fastdetect
>>>>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>>>>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ah......im thinking
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I don;t know what happens at startup.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Anyway partion 2 is c: I think and 1 is d:
>>>>>> When I list then in disk management they are show as d: then c :
>>>>>> in the bottom rigt panel
>>>>> Pulling a tooth from an angry lion would be easier than obtaining
>>>>> information from you... one more try:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> 1- How many physical hard disks do you have in the computer?
>>>>>
>>>>> 2- How many partitions do you have on each hard disk?
>>>>>
>>>>> 3- Please post the results of the SET SYSTEM command.
>>>>>
>>>>> Also, you are posting different variations of the boot.ini file,
>>>>> Windows only uses one boot.ini file. When you run the SET SYSTEM
>>>>> command it will return a line telling you:
>>>>>
>>>>> SystemDrive=?:
>>>>>
>>>>> (? will be C or D ...or ...) the correct boot.ini file will be in the
>>>>> root of the specified SystemDrive, for example C:\ or D:\ . Please
>>>>> post the contents of the correct boot.ini file.
>>>>>
>>>>> John
>>>>
>>>> two phyisical drives
>>>> one has partitios d: and c:
>>>> other is f: one parition f:
>>>>
>>>> There is an ini on both c: and d: as posted, they are different.
>>>>
>>>> ALLUSERSPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
>>>> APPDATA=C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Application Data
>>>> CLASSPATH=.;C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
>>>> CLIENTNAME=Console
>>>> CommonProgramFiles=C:\Program Files\Common Files
>>>> COMPUTERNAME=ZAX
>>>> ComSpec=C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe
>>>> DJGPP=c:\djgpp\djgpp.env
>>>> FP_NO_HOST_CHECK=NO
>>>> HOMEDRIVE=C:
>>>> HOMEPATH=\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner
>>>> LOGONSERVER=\\ZAX
>>>> NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS=1
>>>> OS=Windows_NT
>>>> Path=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;c:\Python22;C:\Program
>>>> Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel;C:\Program
>>>> Files\QuickTime\QTSystem\;C:\MinGW\bin;
>>>> PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH
>>>> PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=x86
>>>> PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER=x86 Family 15 Model 47 Stepping 2, AuthenticAMD
>>>> PROCESSOR_LEVEL=15
>>>> PROCESSOR_REVISION=2f02
>>>> ProgramFiles=C:\Program Files
>>>> PROMPT=$P$G
>>>> QTJAVA=C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
>>>> SAN_DIR=C:\Program Files\SiSoftware\SiSoftware Sandra Lite XII.SP2c
>>>> SESSIONNAME=Console
>>>> SonicCentral=c:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic Shared\Sonic Central\
>>>> SystemDrive=C:
>>>> SystemRoot=C:\WINDOWS
>>>> TEMP=C:\DOCUME~1\HP_Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
>>>> TMP=C:\DOCUME~1\HP_Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
>>>> USERDOMAIN=ZAX
>>>> USERNAME=HP_Owner
>>>> USERPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner
>>>> windir=C:\WINDOWS
>>>> __COMPAT_LAYER=DisableNXShowUI
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> c:boot.ini[boot loader]
>>>> timeout=15
>>>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
>>>> [operating systems]
>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
>>>> Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>> Do you get a brief error message telling you that the boot.ini file is
>>> invalid when you boot Windows? Modify your c:\boot.ini file as such (to
>>> avoid errors you can copy and paste):
>>
>>
>> No I never get any errors on a normal boot, none whatsoever.
>> The only time I have had error is when I try to do a recovery, there
>> seems to be two paths to recovery.
>>
>> The only time I have ever got an error is when I have selected option 2
>> for
>> recovery, but 'bottled out' and decided to boot normally, this brings
>> back the
>> boot menu IIRC, and IIRC when I press 1 for a normal boot I get the
>> hal.dll
>> error. That's the only time I get it on a normal boot.
>>
>> I suspect doing it that way may cause it to look on drive d: for hal.dll
>> and it won't find it there, as it has no windows folder on it.
>>
>> I don't recall an error message about boot.ini at all, although there is
>> a small possibilty I might have missed it but I doubt it.
>>
>>> timeout=15
>>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
>>> [operating systems]
>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Partion 1 Microsoft Windows
>>> XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Partition 2 Microsoft
>>> Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Phoney Baloney Operating
>>> System" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>>
>>> The changes above are obvious enough, when you boot the computer you
>>> will see the "Phoney Baloney Operating System" in the boot menu, this
>>> will confirm that you are indeed using the boot.ini file on C: Try
>>> booting the "Partition 1 Microsoft..." and the "Partition 2
>>> Microsoft..." and see what happens. Also try booting the Recovery
>>> Console. After you confirm the proper Windows boot partition we can
>>> modify the boot.ini file again and remove the invalid entries.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Note it seems c: is partition 2
>>> I don't think so, I think that it is partition 1 and that you get the
>>> error when you boot the Command Console because the boot.ini file on C:
>>> points to the wrong partition.
>>
>>
>> I don't get that error, at least not all the time, I have booted into the
>> Command Console before it must be the right partition I would imagine.
>> Also the way it is listed in disk management suggests partition 1 is d:
>>
>> When I google images of "disk management"
>> http://images.google.co.uk/images?um=1& ... =0&ndsp=18
>>
>> I can see mine is different, d: comes before c:
>>
>>
>>
>>> Do you see C: as partition 2 in the Disk Management Tool? To open the
>>> Disk Management tool enter diskmgmt.msc in the Start Menu Run box. You
>>> can also verify this at the Command Prompt with the Diskpart utility.
>>
>> Disk part confirms partition 2 is 69GB, and that's the size of C:
>> It says partion 1 is 6164MB which is the smaller recovery partition d:
>>
>>
>> SO I think that's established what partion is what, thus partion 2 is c:
>>
>>>> I am not syre if the d:boot.ini is ever used, there is no windows
>>>> directory on d:
>>>> there is I386 though, all the folders are locked
>>> The SystemDrive=C: above tells us that the c:\boot.ini file is the one
>>> used to boot the system, I don't know why you have this boot.ini file on
>>> D:\... But I think that it does have the correct ARC path and that the
>>> one on C: has an improper path, try the modified boot.ini file and then
>>> report your findings.
>>>
>>> John
>>
>> Well I may change those ini files on c: presumably between the quotes
>> is just a comment, so I can change without fear of damage?
>
> Yes, the stuff "between the quotes" is just descriptive text for human
> eyes, it's what you see on the boot menu when the computer boots, you can
> put anything you want there.
>
>
>
>> I will just stick a part 1 in or whatever so I can see what is what.
>
> Don't put just a single path in the test boot.ini file, an all purpose
> boot.ini file includes all the possible paths, you can clean it up after
> you do the tests. This boot.ini file will allow you to boot from two
> different partitions on two hard disks, it's a pretty safe bet that one of
> these options will boot your Windows installation:
>
> =========================================================
> timeout=30
> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
> [operating systems]
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="XP HD0 Part1" /fastdetect
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="XP HD0 Part2" /fastdetect
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="XP HD1 Part1" /fastdetect
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="XP HD1 Part2" /fastdetect
> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>
> ========================================================================
>
>
>> I am reluctant to do anything more yet because I am worried I might
>> not be able to boot up at all?
>
> With the above all purpose boot.ini file it's a pretty sure bet that one
> of the options will boot the Windows installation.
>
>
>
>> What if I make changes and it won't boot?
>>
>> How do I change the boot.ini then?
>
> With the Recovery Console and the bootcfg utility:
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291980
> A discussion about the Bootcfg command and its uses
>
>
>
>> I need to know that really.
>
> If your computer has a floppy drive you can also make an "NT floppy boot
> diskette" and in a pinch use it to boot the Windows installation:
>
> 1- Format the floppy with a Windows NT/2000/XP operating system. (It
> won't work if the floppy was formatted with a Windows 9x installation).
>
> 2 Copy the following files from the root of the System partition (C:\ )
> to the floppy diskette:
>
> boot.ini
> NTDETECT.COM
> ntldr
>
> Boot the computer with the floppy diskette and see if you can boot the
> Windows installation.
>
> John

I don't have a floppy so if I make a mistake I am screwed.
I am pretty reluctant to mess with boot.ini for that reason as
my computer boots fine.
However I did have it set up before to boot up in ubuntu but that
was a while back.

If I can still boot into ubuntu I will be happier making changes
as I should have something to fall back on.

I will try to boot into ubuntu later.
I can aslo make it boot from a ubuntu CD too and I may have
a recovery CD for windows so I think I will check out those
things.
I may try just changing the comments too as that may give some clues,
if it using the d: boot.ini that should show up.

[colin trunt]

"Colin Trunt" <colin@trunt.com> wrote in message
news:0qvvn.227986$0t.149913@newsfe17.ams2...
>
> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
> news:%23z32bB41KHA.3320@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>> news:OGcvyI11KHA.5880@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>>>> news:O8Y2qNz1KHA.4724@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>>>>>> news:e%23YfUgy1KHA.3744@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>>>>>> "Colin Trunt" <colin@trunt.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>> news:xflvn.2326$LS2.1843@newsfe13.ams2...
>>>>>>>>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>>> news:O88cbNx1KHA.6104@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> I can boot either normally or to recovery as llong as I don't
>>>>>>>>>>>> mess about to much and do it directly.
>>>>>>>>>>> What exactly does that mean? Mess about with what and what do
>>>>>>>>>>> you mean by "do it directly"? If the Recovery Console is
>>>>>>>>>>> installed you get a boot menu when you boot the computer and you
>>>>>>>>>>> select to boot the Recovery Console or the Windows installation,
>>>>>>>>>>> what is there to mess about with there and what is there to do
>>>>>>>>>>> directly other than selecting which option to boot?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> How many hard disks do you have and how many partitions do you
>>>>>>>>>>> have on these hard disks? Where is the Windows installation and
>>>>>>>>>>> where is the Command Console installed? To avoid confusion
>>>>>>>>>>> please don't use the term "drive" when answering, use the terms
>>>>>>>>>>> "Hard Disk" and "Partition".
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> John
>>>>>>>>>> First I get a screen which says hit f10 for recovery, then it
>>>>>>>>>> goes to a choice
>>>>>>>>>> 1)windows
>>>>>>>>>> 2)recovey
>>>>>>>>>> 3)ubuntu
>>>>>>>>> my boot.ini
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> [boot loader]
>>>>>>>>> timeout=15
>>>>>>>>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
>>>>>>>>> [operating systems]
>>>>>>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>>>>>>>>> Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>>>>>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console"
>>>>>>>>> /cmdcons
>>>>>>>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>>>>>>> Comes back to the question of how many hard disks and partitions do
>>>>>>>> you have and where exactly is Windows installed. Also, where is
>>>>>>>> this boot.ini file located? (on which hard disk and on which
>>>>>>>> partition?)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Also need the results of the set system command.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The problem is most likely due to an incorrect ARC path in the
>>>>>>>> boot.ini file.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> John
>>>>>>> This is the boot.ini on drive d: (recovery drive)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> [boot loader]
>>>>>>> timeout=15
>>>>>>> default=C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT
>>>>>>> [operating systems]
>>>>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>>>>>>> Professional" /fastdetect
>>>>>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console"
>>>>>>> /cmdcons
>>>>>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ah......im thinking
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I don;t know what happens at startup.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Anyway partion 2 is c: I think and 1 is d:
>>>>>>> When I list then in disk management they are show as d: then c :
>>>>>>> in the bottom rigt panel
>>>>>> Pulling a tooth from an angry lion would be easier than obtaining
>>>>>> information from you... one more try:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1- How many physical hard disks do you have in the computer?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 2- How many partitions do you have on each hard disk?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 3- Please post the results of the SET SYSTEM command.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Also, you are posting different variations of the boot.ini file,
>>>>>> Windows only uses one boot.ini file. When you run the SET SYSTEM
>>>>>> command it will return a line telling you:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> SystemDrive=?:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> (? will be C or D ...or ...) the correct boot.ini file will be in
>>>>>> the root of the specified SystemDrive, for example C:\ or D:\ .
>>>>>> Please post the contents of the correct boot.ini file.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> John
>>>>>
>>>>> two phyisical drives
>>>>> one has partitios d: and c:
>>>>> other is f: one parition f:
>>>>>
>>>>> There is an ini on both c: and d: as posted, they are different.
>>>>>
>>>>> ALLUSERSPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
>>>>> APPDATA=C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Application Data
>>>>> CLASSPATH=.;C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
>>>>> CLIENTNAME=Console
>>>>> CommonProgramFiles=C:\Program Files\Common Files
>>>>> COMPUTERNAME=ZAX
>>>>> ComSpec=C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe
>>>>> DJGPP=c:\djgpp\djgpp.env
>>>>> FP_NO_HOST_CHECK=NO
>>>>> HOMEDRIVE=C:
>>>>> HOMEPATH=\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner
>>>>> LOGONSERVER=\\ZAX
>>>>> NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS=1
>>>>> OS=Windows_NT
>>>>> Path=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;c:\Python22;C:\Program
>>>>> Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel;C:\Program
>>>>> Files\QuickTime\QTSystem\;C:\MinGW\bin;
>>>>> PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH
>>>>> PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=x86
>>>>> PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER=x86 Family 15 Model 47 Stepping 2, AuthenticAMD
>>>>> PROCESSOR_LEVEL=15
>>>>> PROCESSOR_REVISION=2f02
>>>>> ProgramFiles=C:\Program Files
>>>>> PROMPT=$P$G
>>>>> QTJAVA=C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
>>>>> SAN_DIR=C:\Program Files\SiSoftware\SiSoftware Sandra Lite XII.SP2c
>>>>> SESSIONNAME=Console
>>>>> SonicCentral=c:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic Shared\Sonic Central\
>>>>> SystemDrive=C:
>>>>> SystemRoot=C:\WINDOWS
>>>>> TEMP=C:\DOCUME~1\HP_Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
>>>>> TMP=C:\DOCUME~1\HP_Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
>>>>> USERDOMAIN=ZAX
>>>>> USERNAME=HP_Owner
>>>>> USERPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner
>>>>> windir=C:\WINDOWS
>>>>> __COMPAT_LAYER=DisableNXShowUI
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> c:boot.ini[boot loader]
>>>>> timeout=15
>>>>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
>>>>> [operating systems]
>>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
>>>>> Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>>>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>>> Do you get a brief error message telling you that the boot.ini file is
>>>> invalid when you boot Windows? Modify your c:\boot.ini file as such
>>>> (to avoid errors you can copy and paste):
>>>
>>>
>>> No I never get any errors on a normal boot, none whatsoever.
>>> The only time I have had error is when I try to do a recovery, there
>>> seems to be two paths to recovery.
>>>
>>> The only time I have ever got an error is when I have selected option 2
>>> for
>>> recovery, but 'bottled out' and decided to boot normally, this brings
>>> back the
>>> boot menu IIRC, and IIRC when I press 1 for a normal boot I get the
>>> hal.dll
>>> error. That's the only time I get it on a normal boot.
>>>
>>> I suspect doing it that way may cause it to look on drive d: for hal.dll
>>> and it won't find it there, as it has no windows folder on it.
>>>
>>> I don't recall an error message about boot.ini at all, although there is
>>> a small possibilty I might have missed it but I doubt it.
>>>
>>>> timeout=15
>>>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
>>>> [operating systems]
>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Partion 1 Microsoft
>>>> Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Partition 2 Microsoft
>>>> Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Phoney Baloney Operating
>>>> System" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>>>
>>>> The changes above are obvious enough, when you boot the computer you
>>>> will see the "Phoney Baloney Operating System" in the boot menu, this
>>>> will confirm that you are indeed using the boot.ini file on C: Try
>>>> booting the "Partition 1 Microsoft..." and the "Partition 2
>>>> Microsoft..." and see what happens. Also try booting the Recovery
>>>> Console. After you confirm the proper Windows boot partition we can
>>>> modify the boot.ini file again and remove the invalid entries.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Note it seems c: is partition 2
>>>> I don't think so, I think that it is partition 1 and that you get the
>>>> error when you boot the Command Console because the boot.ini file on C:
>>>> points to the wrong partition.
>>>
>>>
>>> I don't get that error, at least not all the time, I have booted into
>>> the
>>> Command Console before it must be the right partition I would imagine.
>>> Also the way it is listed in disk management suggests partition 1 is d:
>>>
>>> When I google images of "disk management"
>>> http://images.google.co.uk/images?um=1& ... =0&ndsp=18
>>>
>>> I can see mine is different, d: comes before c:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Do you see C: as partition 2 in the Disk Management Tool? To open the
>>>> Disk Management tool enter diskmgmt.msc in the Start Menu Run box.
>>>> You can also verify this at the Command Prompt with the Diskpart
>>>> utility.
>>>
>>> Disk part confirms partition 2 is 69GB, and that's the size of C:
>>> It says partion 1 is 6164MB which is the smaller recovery partition d:
>>>
>>>
>>> SO I think that's established what partion is what, thus partion 2 is c:
>>>
>>>>> I am not syre if the d:boot.ini is ever used, there is no windows
>>>>> directory on d:
>>>>> there is I386 though, all the folders are locked
>>>> The SystemDrive=C: above tells us that the c:\boot.ini file is the one
>>>> used to boot the system, I don't know why you have this boot.ini file
>>>> on D:\... But I think that it does have the correct ARC path and that
>>>> the one on C: has an improper path, try the modified boot.ini file and
>>>> then report your findings.
>>>>
>>>> John
>>>
>>> Well I may change those ini files on c: presumably between the quotes
>>> is just a comment, so I can change without fear of damage?
>>
>> Yes, the stuff "between the quotes" is just descriptive text for human
>> eyes, it's what you see on the boot menu when the computer boots, you can
>> put anything you want there.
>>
>>
>>
>>> I will just stick a part 1 in or whatever so I can see what is what.
>>
>> Don't put just a single path in the test boot.ini file, an all purpose
>> boot.ini file includes all the possible paths, you can clean it up after
>> you do the tests. This boot.ini file will allow you to boot from two
>> different partitions on two hard disks, it's a pretty safe bet that one
>> of these options will boot your Windows installation:
>>
>> =========================================================
>> timeout=30
>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
>> [operating systems]
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="XP HD0 Part1" /fastdetect
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="XP HD0 Part2" /fastdetect
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="XP HD1 Part1" /fastdetect
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="XP HD1 Part2" /fastdetect
>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>>
>> ========================================================================
>>
>>
>>> I am reluctant to do anything more yet because I am worried I might
>>> not be able to boot up at all?
>>
>> With the above all purpose boot.ini file it's a pretty sure bet that one
>> of the options will boot the Windows installation.
>>
>>
>>
>>> What if I make changes and it won't boot?
>>>
>>> How do I change the boot.ini then?
>>
>> With the Recovery Console and the bootcfg utility:
>>
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291980
>> A discussion about the Bootcfg command and its uses
>>
>>
>>
>>> I need to know that really.
>>
>> If your computer has a floppy drive you can also make an "NT floppy boot
>> diskette" and in a pinch use it to boot the Windows installation:
>>
>> 1- Format the floppy with a Windows NT/2000/XP operating system. (It
>> won't work if the floppy was formatted with a Windows 9x installation).
>>
>> 2 Copy the following files from the root of the System partition (C:\ )
>> to the floppy diskette:
>>
>> boot.ini
>> NTDETECT.COM
>> ntldr
>>
>> Boot the computer with the floppy diskette and see if you can boot the
>> Windows installation.
>>
>> John
>
> I don't have a floppy so if I make a mistake I am screwed.
> I am pretty reluctant to mess with boot.ini for that reason as
> my computer boots fine.
> However I did have it set up before to boot up in ubuntu but that
> was a while back.
>
> If I can still boot into ubuntu I will be happier making changes
> as I should have something to fall back on.
>
> I will try to boot into ubuntu later.
> I can aslo make it boot from a ubuntu CD too and I may have
> a recovery CD for windows so I think I will check out those
> things.
> I may try just changing the comments too as that may give some clues,
> if it using the d: boot.ini that should show up.
>
>
Well I booted into ubunti but I can't remember the login.

Also I notice now on the d:boot.ini the comment says
"multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect


Note it say *professional* and I only have the home edition.

I have never seen 'profesional' on the menu so it has never used that
boot.ini
as far as I know.


Anyway I found some hp stuf on recovery

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docu ... e=bph07145

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docu ... e=bph07144


Anyway that got me thinking a bit and I was wondering if I could make my
second
drive bootable in windows so for example if one drive failed I could boot
from the
other? Would that be possible?

I did something like that on my old windows 98 PC where I had two drives
and I could swop the drives, I actually copied the original drive so if I
ever
had a problem I could put the copied drive back on as master and I would
be up and running if the original drive failed,

I don't see why I should not be able to do this.

I also have a big USB drive which I could copy the stuff on the second drive
onto
if necesssary.

However basically I have not been getting any errors recently, I am not sure
why, may it did some auto-restore.

I get a bit confused about some of this restore stuff because it does not
say
exactly what it does when a restore is done.

I was happier to mess around with the old computer because I didn't not have
broadband then
so losing internet access was not the big deal it would be now.

[colin trunt]

"Colin Trunt" <colin@trunt.com> wrote in message
news:0qvvn.227986$0t.149913@newsfe17.ams2...
>
> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
> news:%23z32bB41KHA.3320@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>> news:OGcvyI11KHA.5880@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>>>> news:O8Y2qNz1KHA.4724@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>>>>>> news:e%23YfUgy1KHA.3744@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>>>>>> "Colin Trunt" <colin@trunt.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>> news:xflvn.2326$LS2.1843@newsfe13.ams2...
>>>>>>>>>> "John John - MVP" <audetweld@nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message
>>>>>>>>>> news:O88cbNx1KHA.6104@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>>>>>> Colin Trunt wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> I can boot either normally or to recovery as llong as I don't
>>>>>>>>>>>> mess about to much and do it directly.
>>>>>>>>>>> What exactly does that mean? Mess about with what and what do
>>>>>>>>>>> you mean by "do it directly"? If the Recovery Console is
>>>>>>>>>>> installed you get a boot menu when you boot the computer and you
>>>>>>>>>>> select to boot the Recovery Console or the Windows installation,
>>>>>>>>>>> what is there to mess about with there and what is there to do
>>>>>>>>>>> directly other than selecting which option to boot?
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> How many hard disks do you have and how many partitions do you
>>>>>>>>>>> have on these hard disks? Where is the Windows installation and
>>>>>>>>>>> where is the Command Console installed? To avoid confusion
>>>>>>>>>>> please don't use the term "drive" when answering, use the terms
>>>>>>>>>>> "Hard Disk" and "Partition".
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> John
>>>>>>>>>> First I get a screen which says hit f10 for recovery, then it
>>>>>>>>>> goes to a choice
>>>>>>>>>> 1)windows
>>>>>>>>>> 2)recovey
>>>>>>>>>> 3)ubuntu
>>>>>>>>> my boot.ini
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> [boot loader]
>>>>>>>>> timeout=15
>>>>>>>>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
>>>>>>>>> [operating systems]
>>>>>>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>>>>>>>>> Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>>>>>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console"
>>>>>>>>> /cmdcons
>>>>>>>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>>>>>>> Comes back to the question of how many hard disks and partitions do
>>>>>>>> you have and where exactly is Windows installed. Also, where is
>>>>>>>> this boot.ini file located? (on which hard disk and on which
>>>>>>>> partition?)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Also need the results of the set system command.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The problem is most likely due to an incorrect ARC path in the
>>>>>>>> boot.ini file.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> John
>>>>>>> This is the boot.ini on drive d: (recovery drive)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> [boot loader]
>>>>>>> timeout=15
>>>>>>> default=C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT
>>>>>>> [operating systems]
>>>>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>>>>>>> Professional" /fastdetect
>>>>>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console"
>>>>>>> /cmdcons
>>>>>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ah......im thinking
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I don;t know what happens at startup.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Anyway partion 2 is c: I think and 1 is d:
>>>>>>> When I list then in disk management they are show as d: then c :
>>>>>>> in the bottom rigt panel
>>>>>> Pulling a tooth from an angry lion would be easier than obtaining
>>>>>> information from you... one more try:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1- How many physical hard disks do you have in the computer?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 2- How many partitions do you have on each hard disk?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 3- Please post the results of the SET SYSTEM command.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Also, you are posting different variations of the boot.ini file,
>>>>>> Windows only uses one boot.ini file. When you run the SET SYSTEM
>>>>>> command it will return a line telling you:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> SystemDrive=?:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> (? will be C or D ...or ...) the correct boot.ini file will be in
>>>>>> the root of the specified SystemDrive, for example C:\ or D:\ .
>>>>>> Please post the contents of the correct boot.ini file.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> John
>>>>>
>>>>> two phyisical drives
>>>>> one has partitios d: and c:
>>>>> other is f: one parition f:
>>>>>
>>>>> There is an ini on both c: and d: as posted, they are different.
>>>>>
>>>>> ALLUSERSPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
>>>>> APPDATA=C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Application Data
>>>>> CLASSPATH=.;C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
>>>>> CLIENTNAME=Console
>>>>> CommonProgramFiles=C:\Program Files\Common Files
>>>>> COMPUTERNAME=ZAX
>>>>> ComSpec=C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe
>>>>> DJGPP=c:\djgpp\djgpp.env
>>>>> FP_NO_HOST_CHECK=NO
>>>>> HOMEDRIVE=C:
>>>>> HOMEPATH=\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner
>>>>> LOGONSERVER=\\ZAX
>>>>> NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS=1
>>>>> OS=Windows_NT
>>>>> Path=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;c:\Python22;C:\Program
>>>>> Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel;C:\Program
>>>>> Files\QuickTime\QTSystem\;C:\MinGW\bin;
>>>>> PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH
>>>>> PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=x86
>>>>> PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER=x86 Family 15 Model 47 Stepping 2, AuthenticAMD
>>>>> PROCESSOR_LEVEL=15
>>>>> PROCESSOR_REVISION=2f02
>>>>> ProgramFiles=C:\Program Files
>>>>> PROMPT=$P$G
>>>>> QTJAVA=C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
>>>>> SAN_DIR=C:\Program Files\SiSoftware\SiSoftware Sandra Lite XII.SP2c
>>>>> SESSIONNAME=Console
>>>>> SonicCentral=c:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic Shared\Sonic Central\
>>>>> SystemDrive=C:
>>>>> SystemRoot=C:\WINDOWS
>>>>> TEMP=C:\DOCUME~1\HP_Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
>>>>> TMP=C:\DOCUME~1\HP_Owner\LOCALS~1\Temp
>>>>> USERDOMAIN=ZAX
>>>>> USERNAME=HP_Owner
>>>>> USERPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner
>>>>> windir=C:\WINDOWS
>>>>> __COMPAT_LAYER=DisableNXShowUI
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> c:boot.ini[boot loader]
>>>>> timeout=15
>>>>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
>>>>> [operating systems]
>>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
>>>>> Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>>>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>>> Do you get a brief error message telling you that the boot.ini file is
>>>> invalid when you boot Windows? Modify your c:\boot.ini file as such
>>>> (to avoid errors you can copy and paste):
>>>
>>>
>>> No I never get any errors on a normal boot, none whatsoever.
>>> The only time I have had error is when I try to do a recovery, there
>>> seems to be two paths to recovery.
>>>
>>> The only time I have ever got an error is when I have selected option 2
>>> for
>>> recovery, but 'bottled out' and decided to boot normally, this brings
>>> back the
>>> boot menu IIRC, and IIRC when I press 1 for a normal boot I get the
>>> hal.dll
>>> error. That's the only time I get it on a normal boot.
>>>
>>> I suspect doing it that way may cause it to look on drive d: for hal.dll
>>> and it won't find it there, as it has no windows folder on it.
>>>
>>> I don't recall an error message about boot.ini at all, although there is
>>> a small possibilty I might have missed it but I doubt it.
>>>
>>>> timeout=15
>>>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
>>>> [operating systems]
>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Partion 1 Microsoft
>>>> Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Partition 2 Microsoft
>>>> Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Phoney Baloney Operating
>>>> System" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
>>>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>>>> c:\wubildr.mbr="Ubuntu"
>>>>
>>>> The changes above are obvious enough, when you boot the computer you
>>>> will see the "Phoney Baloney Operating System" in the boot menu, this
>>>> will confirm that you are indeed using the boot.ini file on C: Try
>>>> booting the "Partition 1 Microsoft..." and the "Partition 2
>>>> Microsoft..." and see what happens. Also try booting the Recovery
>>>> Console. After you confirm the proper Windows boot partition we can
>>>> modify the boot.ini file again and remove the invalid entries.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Note it seems c: is partition 2
>>>> I don't think so, I think that it is partition 1 and that you get the
>>>> error when you boot the Command Console because the boot.ini file on C:
>>>> points to the wrong partition.
>>>
>>>
>>> I don't get that error, at least not all the time, I have booted into
>>> the
>>> Command Console before it must be the right partition I would imagine.
>>> Also the way it is listed in disk management suggests partition 1 is d:
>>>
>>> When I google images of "disk management"
>>> http://images.google.co.uk/images?um=1& ... =0&ndsp=18
>>>
>>> I can see mine is different, d: comes before c:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>> Do you see C: as partition 2 in the Disk Management Tool? To open the
>>>> Disk Management tool enter diskmgmt.msc in the Start Menu Run box.
>>>> You can also verify this at the Command Prompt with the Diskpart
>>>> utility.
>>>
>>> Disk part confirms partition 2 is 69GB, and that's the size of C:
>>> It says partion 1 is 6164MB which is the smaller recovery partition d:
>>>
>>>
>>> SO I think that's established what partion is what, thus partion 2 is c:
>>>
>>>>> I am not syre if the d:boot.ini is ever used, there is no windows
>>>>> directory on d:
>>>>> there is I386 though, all the folders are locked
>>>> The SystemDrive=C: above tells us that the c:\boot.ini file is the one
>>>> used to boot the system, I don't know why you have this boot.ini file
>>>> on D:\... But I think that it does have the correct ARC path and that
>>>> the one on C: has an improper path, try the modified boot.ini file and
>>>> then report your findings.
>>>>
>>>> John
>>>
>>> Well I may change those ini files on c: presumably between the quotes
>>> is just a comment, so I can change without fear of damage?
>>
>> Yes, the stuff "between the quotes" is just descriptive text for human
>> eyes, it's what you see on the boot menu when the computer boots, you can
>> put anything you want there.
>>
>>
>>
>>> I will just stick a part 1 in or whatever so I can see what is what.
>>
>> Don't put just a single path in the test boot.ini file, an all purpose
>> boot.ini file includes all the possible paths, you can clean it up after
>> you do the tests. This boot.ini file will allow you to boot from two
>> different partitions on two hard disks, it's a pretty safe bet that one
>> of these options will boot your Windows installation:
>>
>> =========================================================
>> timeout=30
>> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
>> [operating systems]
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="XP HD0 Part1" /fastdetect
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="XP HD0 Part2" /fastdetect
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="XP HD1 Part1" /fastdetect
>> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="XP HD1 Part2" /fastdetect
>> C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Recovery Console" /cmdcons
>>
>> ========================================================================
>>
>>
>>> I am reluctant to do anything more yet because I am worried I might
>>> not be able to boot up at all?
>>
>> With the above all purpose boot.ini file it's a pretty sure bet that one
>> of the options will boot the Windows installation.
>>
>>
>>
>>> What if I make changes and it won't boot?
>>>
>>> How do I change the boot.ini then?
>>
>> With the Recovery Console and the bootcfg utility:
>>
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291980
>> A discussion about the Bootcfg command and its uses
>>
>>
>>
>>> I need to know that really.
>>
>> If your computer has a floppy drive you can also make an "NT floppy boot
>> diskette" and in a pinch use it to boot the Windows installation:
>>
>> 1- Format the floppy with a Windows NT/2000/XP operating system. (It
>> won't work if the floppy was formatted with a Windows 9x installation).
>>
>> 2 Copy the following files from the root of the System partition (C:\ )
>> to the floppy diskette:
>>
>> boot.ini
>> NTDETECT.COM
>> ntldr
>>
>> Boot the computer with the floppy diskette and see if you can boot the
>> Windows installation.
>>
>> John
>
> I don't have a floppy so if I make a mistake I am screwed.
> I am pretty reluctant to mess with boot.ini for that reason as
> my computer boots fine.
> However I did have it set up before to boot up in ubuntu but that
> was a while back.
>
> If I can still boot into ubuntu I will be happier making changes
> as I should have something to fall back on.
>
> I will try to boot into ubuntu later.
> I can aslo make it boot from a ubuntu CD too and I may have
> a recovery CD for windows so I think I will check out those
> things.
> I may try just changing the comments too as that may give some clues,
> if it using the d: boot.ini that should show up.
>
>

Ubunto boots up but I forgot login.

I note the boot.ini on d: says windows *profressional*,
I have never seen that hence that ini must never have been used in the past!

I can't seem to get the hal.dll error now anyway,

Woul dit be possible to make my other drive bootable as windows XP?
Then if one disk failed I could use the other drive!

[vinod kumar]

hi,
hal.dll can be recovered or the error can be prevented by doing the
following steps.

>put cd into cd tray
>boot into recovery console (choose R to repair).
>then type bootcfg /rebuild.
>type exit
>reboot

[colin trunt]

"vinod kumar" <vinod kumar@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F1E36501-CB75-4899-81F3-4DEBD5695CB5@microsoft.com...
> hi,
> hal.dll can be recovered or the error can be prevented by doing the
> following steps.
>
>>put cd into cd tray
>>boot into recovery console (choose R to repair).
>>then type bootcfg /rebuild.
>>type exit
>>reboot

Which CD should I use?
I have dozens.
Don't have a windows XP one though.