AdminXP.com: Boot.ini

Boot.ini

This file represents a start menu displayed after the computer startup.
It contains data defining the booting of the OS.
When the data are changed incorrectly, a file is damaged or deleted, the computer will not start.

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Server" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\NTSERV="Windows NT Server Version 4.00"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\NTSERV="Windows NT Server Version 4.00 [VGA mode]" /basevideo /sos
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\NTWORK="Windows NT Workstation, verze 4.00"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\NTWORK="Windows NT Workstation, verze 4.00 [VGA]" /basevideo /sos
C:\="Microsoft Windows"

Parameters

Timeout	Time necessary for selection of another operating system.
Default	Initial selection of an operating system which is defined after the timeout.

These parameters can be changed in the Control panel - System - - Advanced - Startup and Recovery

Cesty ARC (Advanced Risc Computing)

A path determining location of the system files (to the %SystemRoot% directory)

multi or scsi(x)disk(z)rdisk(a)partition(b)\%SystemRoot%

multi(x)	Number of the IDE disk controller or the SCSI adapter with BIOS. (Always 0)
scsi(x)	Number for the SCSI card without BIOS (most of the adapters´ BIOS are on for SCSI)
signature()	Q227704 - Windows 2000 May Use Signature() Syntax in the Boot.ini File
disk(z)	Only for SCSI - ID disk. When using multi - this setup is always 0.
rdisk(a)	Disk number on the IDE EIDE controllers (0 first, 1 second, 2 ....) for SCSI always 0
partition(b)	partition number 1,2,3,4... (primary partitions are always before extended partitions and logical disks)
\%SystemRoot%	Directory containing Windows. Winnt is the most often and initial setup

Příklady cest ARC

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1) - Installation on the EIDE disk, partition 1 (common solution)
scsi(0)disk(3)rdisk(0)partition(1) - Installation on the SCSI (with BIOS off) ID 3 disk, partition 1

C: - multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)
D: - multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)
E: - multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)
F: - multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)
G: - multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(4)
H: - multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)

Switches

/fastdetect	Switches off the detection of serial and parallel ports for the ntdetect.com file. The detection is carried out by help of plug and play drivers.
/basevideo	The system will start with a standard VGA driver - used in case of problems with a wrong VGA driver or wrong chosen setup of the graphics mode.
/maxmem:n	Determination of a maximum amount of memory which can Windows NT use (MB). (used in case of wrong memories) Q108393
/sos	During the start of Windows the names of the drivers are displayed - used in case that some of the drivers is missing (device driver is missing).
/numproc=x	Switches on a defined number (x) of processors in multiprocessor system.
/noguiboot	The system start is not followed by displayed graphics.
/bootlog	Activates information record about loading of drivers during the system start into the ntblog.txt protocol in the Windows directory.
/3GB	Application memory tuning (4-gigabyte memory tuning) - Adds more virtual memory for applications and less for the system - only in the Advanced server OS and the Datacenter Server (3GB vs 1GB) - More in the Windows AS, DS OS Help
/PAE	Support of improved memory architecture for Advanced server and Datacenter Server (more on www and in OS Help)
/crashdebug	Tuning is activated only in case of errors in the kernel of the operating system.
/debug /debugport /baudrate	Activates tuning of the system and debugging
/nodebug	Does not display errors to tuning

Additional information:

The boot.ini file is determined only for reading and hidden (read only a hidden), for adjusting you must change following parameters:
1. In the command line and in the system partition: attrib -h -r -s boot.ini
or
2. NT Explorer - Menu View - Options - view - show all files - OK
Click boot.ini file - menu - File - Properties - General - deselect - OK

Problems

Windows NT could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: <winnt root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe Please reinstall a copy of the above file - The boot.ini is missing or there is a wrong ARC path. Check the boot.ini file.
BOOT: Couldn't find NTLDR Please insert another disk - There is the ntldr file missing on the disk.
Where to get the boot ini? - From another computer with Windows 2000 or to create it in some text editor. The most suitable are easy text editors, e. g. Notepad. Be careful - some more improved text editors save the files in their format, so the file can then contain wrong symbols.
How to edit the boot ini file on the NTFS disk? - 1. On some other computer. 2. Use a system diskette with support of NTFS. 3. Create a starter diskette, adjust ARC paths referring to a partition with Windows NT and start the system using this diskette.