Boot.ini Re: Please.... Re: XP-Pro and msconfig/boot.ini

[Stuff]

Boot.ini has nothing in it...it is a totally empty file. It is located in
the root of the C: drive.

I did, in fact, have a virus a few weeks ago when I mistakenly had Norton
antivirus updates turned off. I have since gotten the updates, and
eradicated that virus.

When I invoke msconfig from START > RUN, it does not come up. Once in a
great while it does for a split second, then shuts down quickly.

ThanX!!!!!
Howie


"Doug Knox MS-MVP" > wrote in message
...
> You don't need to reinstall MSCONFIG. You need to post the contents of
your
> BOOT.INI with more information on your setup, and we'll tell you how to
> correct it. You may also want to locate MSCONFIG.EXE and make a copy of
it,
> naming it MSCONFIG1.EXE If the copy runs, then you have a virus, not a
> corrupt MSCONFIG.
>
> --
> Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
> Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
> http://www.dougknox.com
> --------------------------------
> Associate Expert
> ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> --------------------------------
> Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
> Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.
>
> "Stuff" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Please...the problem is both msconfig AND boot.ini. (msconfig does not
> come
> > up, and boot.ini is glitched) I am under the impression a new msconfig
> file
> > from the Windows CD is needed> (???)
> >
> > Would you please tell me the CMD command to re-install msconfig.com from
> > START > RUN? I had to do this once before, but I do not remember that
> > command now.
> >
> > thanX!
> > Howie
> >
> > "Stuff" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > How can I reinstall msconfig.exe via the START-RUN-CMD method?
> > > I have the XP -PRO CD (not an OEM restore type CD!)..
> > > My boot.ini was glitched (I get an alert early in the boot process)
and
> > > msconfig will not come up properly from START-RUN-msconfig.
> > >
> > > ThanX for the help!
> > > Howie Adams
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Stuff,

Then you still have the virus. Probably a variant of an older one that the
AV scanners aren't catching. If you can rename MSCONFIG.EXE to
MSCONFIG1.EXE and run it, you have the virus, particularly, if the same
behavior occurs with Task Manager and Regedit.

For a single disk system, a typical BOOT.INI file looks like this:

[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="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect
C:\="Previous Operating System on C:"

Again, if your system is not single disk and/or XP is not installed on C:,
more information is needed to help you correct it manually. You can boot
from the XP CD and when offered the opportunity to Setup or Repair, choose
repair, and at the command prompt type in BOOTCFG /? for the command line
options for the BOOTCFG program.

You may also want to see www.dougknox.com, Win XP Utilities, Create
Emergency Copies of Critical XP System Utilities. This small VB Program
will create backup, usable copies of Task Manger, Regedit and MSConfig
(named Taskmgr1.exe, Regedit.com and MSConfig1.exe) in a new folder
C:\EmergencyUtil. Many virus programs will intercept these programs, based
on their original file name. The modified file names, allow them to be run.
Open Windows Explorer to C:\EmergencyUtil and double click the application
you need. The next revision will allow you to browse for the folder you
want to place the backups in.

Additionally, see the Win XP Utilities section for Startup Programs Tracker.
This small utility scans your system for startup programs and running
processes. It also allows you to create a log file that can be copied and
pasted into a newsgroup post. The contents of the program window are also
copied to the Windows Clipboard, automatically.

These two programs will help you determine what the virus is, and where its
being loaded from.
--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Associate Expert
ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Stuff" > wrote in message
...
> Boot.ini has nothing in it...it is a totally empty file. It is located in
> the root of the C: drive.
>
> I did, in fact, have a virus a few weeks ago when I mistakenly had Norton
> antivirus updates turned off. I have since gotten the updates, and
> eradicated that virus.
>
> When I invoke msconfig from START > RUN, it does not come up. Once in a
> great while it does for a split second, then shuts down quickly.
>
> ThanX!!!!!
> Howie
>
>
> "Doug Knox MS-MVP" > wrote in message
> ...
> > You don't need to reinstall MSCONFIG. You need to post the contents of
> your
> > BOOT.INI with more information on your setup, and we'll tell you how to
> > correct it. You may also want to locate MSCONFIG.EXE and make a copy of
> it,
> > naming it MSCONFIG1.EXE If the copy runs, then you have a virus, not a
> > corrupt MSCONFIG.
> >
> > --
> > Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
> > Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
> > http://www.dougknox.com
> > --------------------------------
> > Associate Expert
> > ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> > --------------------------------
> > Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
> > Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.
> >
> > "Stuff" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Please...the problem is both msconfig AND boot.ini. (msconfig does
not
> > come
> > > up, and boot.ini is glitched) I am under the impression a new
msconfig
> > file
> > > from the Windows CD is needed> (???)
> > >
> > > Would you please tell me the CMD command to re-install msconfig.com
from
> > > START > RUN? I had to do this once before, but I do not remember
that
> > > command now.
> > >
> > > thanX!
> > > Howie
> > >
> > > "Stuff" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > How can I reinstall msconfig.exe via the START-RUN-CMD method?
> > > > I have the XP -PRO CD (not an OEM restore type CD!)..
> > > > My boot.ini was glitched (I get an alert early in the boot process)
> and
> > > > msconfig will not come up properly from START-RUN-msconfig.
> > > >
> > > > ThanX for the help!
> > > > Howie Adams
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

The point is, Boot.ini should *not* be an empty file.

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Stuff" > wrote in message
...
> Boot.ini has nothing in it...it is a totally empty file. It is
located in
> the root of the C: drive.
>

[Stuff]

WOW Bruce! ThanX!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok...I went to your site and found the emergency msconfig1
deallie...downloaded, unzipped it, and launched it...and, just as you said,
it works!

So that means I still have the virus, or do I have now just contaminated
files...do I now replace every occurrence of msconfig.exe with the new one
(I found several occurrences in different folders)? Delete the old and copy
the new under the original filename?

How to I get rid of the virus (I know I had it several weeks ago, but
thought I got rid of it. I will rerun Norton while I wait for your answer!)

Also, regedit does not work either, just as you suggested it might not! Do
I swap this too? And Task Manager (right..it does not work either!)

Again...many thanX!

"Bruce Chambers" > wrote in message
...
> Greetings --
>
> The point is, Boot.ini should *not* be an empty file.
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> --
> Help us help you:
> http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
> having both at once. -- RAH
>
>
> "Stuff" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Boot.ini has nothing in it...it is a totally empty file. It is
> located in
> > the root of the C: drive.
> >
>
>

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Bruce,

My apologies for my earlier post. Seems we both looked at the problem a bit
differently :-)

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Associate Expert
ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Bruce Chambers" > wrote in message
...
> Greetings --
>
> The point is, Boot.ini should *not* be an empty file.
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> --
> Help us help you:
> http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
> having both at once. -- RAH
>
>
> "Stuff" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Boot.ini has nothing in it...it is a totally empty file. It is
> located in
> > the root of the C: drive.
> >
>
>

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Stuff,

The MSCONFIG1.EXE file created by my utility is an exact copy of the
original MSCONFIG.EXE file. It only has a different name. The virus
intercepts the program by its "process name", which is the same as the file
name, in this case. Running it with the name MSCONFIG1.EXE allows it to
"slip past' the virus.

Go back to www.dougknox.com, Win XP Utilities, Startup Programs Tracker.
This utility will scan your system for Startup files and give you a listing
that can be copied and pasted into a reply, here. It will also create a log
file, if you want a permanent record. We can look at the results and give
you specific information on what executable is likely to be the virus.

Again, your MSConfig, Regedit and Task Manager are not infected. The virus
is intercepting them by the program name. The "copies" in the
C:\EmergencyUtils folder will run, with no problems. You do not need to
replace any of these files.
--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Associate Expert
ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Stuff" > wrote in message
...
> WOW Bruce! ThanX!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> Ok...I went to your site and found the emergency msconfig1
> deallie...downloaded, unzipped it, and launched it...and, just as you
said,
> it works!
>
> So that means I still have the virus, or do I have now just contaminated
> files...do I now replace every occurrence of msconfig.exe with the new one
> (I found several occurrences in different folders)? Delete the old and
copy
> the new under the original filename?
>
> How to I get rid of the virus (I know I had it several weeks ago, but
> thought I got rid of it. I will rerun Norton while I wait for your
answer!)
>
> Also, regedit does not work either, just as you suggested it might not!
Do
> I swap this too? And Task Manager (right..it does not work either!)
>
> Again...many thanX!
>
> "Bruce Chambers" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Greetings --
> >
> > The point is, Boot.ini should *not* be an empty file.
> >
> > Bruce Chambers
> >
> > --
> > Help us help you:
> > http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
> >
> > You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
> > having both at once. -- RAH
> >
> >
> > "Stuff" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Boot.ini has nothing in it...it is a totally empty file. It is
> > located in
> > > the root of the C: drive.
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

No problem. The original wasn't what I'd've called "crystal
clear."

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH


"Doug Knox MS-MVP" > wrote in message
...
> Bruce,
>
> My apologies for my earlier post. Seems we both looked at the
problem a bit
> differently :-)
>
> --
> Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
> Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
> http://www.dougknox.com
> --------------------------------
> Associate Expert
> ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> --------------------------------
> Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
> Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.
>