bootup problem

[david]

right before windows xp is initialized i receive this
command:

invalid boot.ini file
booting from c:/windows

i've noticed since i got this message that the items
under all programs in my start menu have "shifted" to the
right in a sense that i can no longer see part of the
items' names. i have not altered my monitor's dimension
size nor do i wish too. i am unsure if the two incidents
are linked and have not encountered any other problems
YET. could someone please advise me on the situation and
clear up any confusion on the current matter at hand.

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi David,

Start/run C:\boot.ini

Click edit/select all/edit/copy, then open a reply to this post. Click in
the message text area and hit ctrl+v to paste the contents for examination.

Please also provide a short description of how your machine is set up (# of
hard drives, partitions, where XP is loaded, etc.).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"david" > wrote in message
...
> right before windows xp is initialized i receive this
> command:
>
> invalid boot.ini file
> booting from c:/windows
>
> i've noticed since i got this message that the items
> under all programs in my start menu have "shifted" to the
> right in a sense that i can no longer see part of the
> items' names. i have not altered my monitor's dimension
> size nor do i wish too. i am unsure if the two incidents
> are linked and have not encountered any other problems
> YET. could someone please advise me on the situation and
> clear up any confusion on the current matter at hand.

[David]

i went to start and run and input the path you sent.
unfortunately, it replied thatwindows could not find
C:\boot.ini

>-----Original Message-----
>Hi David,
>
>Start/run C:\boot.ini
>
>Click edit/select all/edit/copy, then open a reply to
this post. Click in
>the message text area and hit ctrl+v to paste the
contents for examination.
>
>Please also provide a short description of how your
machine is set up (# of
>hard drives, partitions, where XP is loaded, etc.).
>
>--
>Best of Luck,
>
>Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
>http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>
>"david" > wrote in
message
...
>> right before windows xp is initialized i receive this
>> command:
>>
>> invalid boot.ini file
>> booting from c:/windows
>>
>> i've noticed since i got this message that the items
>> under all programs in my start menu have "shifted" to
the
>> right in a sense that i can no longer see part of the
>> items' names. i have not altered my monitor's
dimension
>> size nor do i wish too. i am unsure if the two
incidents
>> are linked and have not encountered any other problems
>> YET. could someone please advise me on the situation
and
>> clear up any confusion on the current matter at hand.
>
>
>.
>

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi David,

What is your boot drive letter? Just change it accordingly.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"David" > wrote in message
...
> i went to start and run and input the path you sent.
> unfortunately, it replied thatwindows could not find
> C:\boot.ini
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Hi David,
> >
> >Start/run C:\boot.ini
> >
> >Click edit/select all/edit/copy, then open a reply to
> this post. Click in
> >the message text area and hit ctrl+v to paste the
> contents for examination.
> >
> >Please also provide a short description of how your
> machine is set up (# of
> >hard drives, partitions, where XP is loaded, etc.).
> >
> >--
> >Best of Luck,
> >
> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
> >
> >"david" > wrote in
> message
> ...
> >> right before windows xp is initialized i receive this
> >> command:
> >>
> >> invalid boot.ini file
> >> booting from c:/windows
> >>
> >> i've noticed since i got this message that the items
> >> under all programs in my start menu have "shifted" to
> the
> >> right in a sense that i can no longer see part of the
> >> items' names. i have not altered my monitor's
> dimension
> >> size nor do i wish too. i am unsure if the two
> incidents
> >> are linked and have not encountered any other problems
> >> YET. could someone please advise me on the situation
> and
> >> clear up any confusion on the current matter at hand.
> >
> >
> >.
> >

[David]

it is the c drive. i think the path u sent was wrong.
>-----Original Message-----
>Hi David,
>
>What is your boot drive letter? Just change it
accordingly.
>
>--
>Best of Luck,
>
>Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
>http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>
>"David" > wrote in
message
...
>> i went to start and run and input the path you sent.
>> unfortunately, it replied thatwindows could not find
>> C:\boot.ini
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >Hi David,
>> >
>> >Start/run C:\boot.ini
>> >
>> >Click edit/select all/edit/copy, then open a reply to
>> this post. Click in
>> >the message text area and hit ctrl+v to paste the
>> contents for examination.
>> >
>> >Please also provide a short description of how your
>> machine is set up (# of
>> >hard drives, partitions, where XP is loaded, etc.).
>> >
>> >--
>> >Best of Luck,
>> >
>> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
>> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>> >
>> >"david" > wrote in
>> message
>> ...
>> >> right before windows xp is initialized i receive
this
>> >> command:
>> >>
>> >> invalid boot.ini file
>> >> booting from c:/windows
>> >>
>> >> i've noticed since i got this message that the items
>> >> under all programs in my start menu have "shifted"
to
>> the
>> >> right in a sense that i can no longer see part of
the
>> >> items' names. i have not altered my monitor's
>> dimension
>> >> size nor do i wish too. i am unsure if the two
>> incidents
>> >> are linked and have not encountered any other
problems
>> >> YET. could someone please advise me on the
situation
>> and
>> >> clear up any confusion on the current matter at
hand.
>> >
>> >
>> >.
>> >
>
>
>.
>

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi David,

The path is correct provided C is your boot drive. Please give a brief
description of your system hard drive setup as I mentioned before.

Also, go to the control panel/system/advanced tab, click on startup and
recovery settings, then on the "edit" button - this should also open
boot.ini in notepad. Please copy/paste this into the response as well.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"David" > wrote in message
...
> it is the c drive. i think the path u sent was wrong.
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Hi David,
> >
> >What is your boot drive letter? Just change it
> accordingly.
> >
> >--
> >Best of Luck,
> >
> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
> >
> >"David" > wrote in
> message
> ...
> >> i went to start and run and input the path you sent.
> >> unfortunately, it replied thatwindows could not find
> >> C:\boot.ini
> >>
> >> >-----Original Message-----
> >> >Hi David,
> >> >
> >> >Start/run C:\boot.ini
> >> >
> >> >Click edit/select all/edit/copy, then open a reply to
> >> this post. Click in
> >> >the message text area and hit ctrl+v to paste the
> >> contents for examination.
> >> >
> >> >Please also provide a short description of how your
> >> machine is set up (# of
> >> >hard drives, partitions, where XP is loaded, etc.).
> >> >
> >> >--
> >> >Best of Luck,
> >> >
> >> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
> >> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
> >> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
> >> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> >> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> >
> >> >"david" > wrote in
> >> message
> >> ...
> >> >> right before windows xp is initialized i receive
> this
> >> >> command:
> >> >>
> >> >> invalid boot.ini file
> >> >> booting from c:/windows
> >> >>
> >> >> i've noticed since i got this message that the items
> >> >> under all programs in my start menu have "shifted"
> to
> >> the
> >> >> right in a sense that i can no longer see part of
> the
> >> >> items' names. i have not altered my monitor's
> >> dimension
> >> >> size nor do i wish too. i am unsure if the two
> >> incidents
> >> >> are linked and have not encountered any other
> problems
> >> >> YET. could someone please advise me on the
> situation
> >> and
> >> >> clear up any confusion on the current matter at
> hand.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >.
> >> >
> >
> >
> >.
> >

[David]

it's difficult to describe my hard drive system
considering im not really a computer expert. i went to
where you said "control panel/system/advanced tab, click
on startup and recovery settings. a message popped up
stating that it could not open boot.ini file and that the
time to display list and os couldn't open. i clicked
then on the "edit" button where it brought me to the
settings window where the "time to display list of os"
wasn't highlighted and the default os box was blank.
notepad automatically activated stating that boot.ini
couldn't be opened and that i should create a new one. i
did so and now have a blank notepad file named boot.
currently my "time to display list of os" is set to 0 and
there are no items under my "default os" box. once more i
am unsure if this is in any way connected to the shifting
of my "all programs" menu. could you offer suggestions
to that too if it is a separate problem?

>-----Original Message-----
>Hi David,
>
>The path is correct provided C is your boot drive.
Please give a brief
>description of your system hard drive setup as I
mentioned before.
>
>Also, go to the control panel/system/advanced tab, click
on startup and
>recovery settings, then on the "edit" button - this
should also open
>boot.ini in notepad. Please copy/paste this into the
response as well.
>
>--
>Best of Luck,
>
>Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
>http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>
>"David" > wrote in
message
...
>> it is the c drive. i think the path u sent was wrong.
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >Hi David,
>> >
>> >What is your boot drive letter? Just change it
>> accordingly.
>> >
>> >--
>> >Best of Luck,
>> >
>> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
>> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>> >
>> >"David" > wrote in
>> message
>> ...
>> >> i went to start and run and input the path you sent.
>> >> unfortunately, it replied thatwindows could not find
>> >> C:\boot.ini
>> >>
>> >> >-----Original Message-----
>> >> >Hi David,
>> >> >
>> >> >Start/run C:\boot.ini
>> >> >
>> >> >Click edit/select all/edit/copy, then open a reply
to
>> >> this post. Click in
>> >> >the message text area and hit ctrl+v to paste the
>> >> contents for examination.
>> >> >
>> >> >Please also provide a short description of how your
>> >> machine is set up (# of
>> >> >hard drives, partitions, where XP is loaded, etc.).
>> >> >
>> >> >--
>> >> >Best of Luck,
>> >> >
>> >> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>> >> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other
hobby!
>> >> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> >> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>> >> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>> >> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>> >> >
>> >> >"david" >
wrote in
>> >> message
>> >> ...
>> >> >> right before windows xp is initialized i receive
>> this
>> >> >> command:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> invalid boot.ini file
>> >> >> booting from c:/windows
>> >> >>
>> >> >> i've noticed since i got this message that the
items
>> >> >> under all programs in my start menu
have "shifted"
>> to
>> >> the
>> >> >> right in a sense that i can no longer see part of
>> the
>> >> >> items' names. i have not altered my monitor's
>> >> dimension
>> >> >> size nor do i wish too. i am unsure if the two
>> >> incidents
>> >> >> are linked and have not encountered any other
>> problems
>> >> >> YET. could someone please advise me on the
>> situation
>> >> and
>> >> >> clear up any confusion on the current matter at
>> hand.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >.
>> >> >
>> >
>> >
>> >.
>> >
>
>
>.
>

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi David,

Boot.ini isn't corrupt, it was gone altogether. But this should be too bad
to fix. Boot the WinXP CD, load the Recovery Console (see link below), from
the command prompt run bootcfg /rebuild

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP [Q307654]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"David" > wrote in message
...
> it's difficult to describe my hard drive system
> considering im not really a computer expert. i went to
> where you said "control panel/system/advanced tab, click
> on startup and recovery settings. a message popped up
> stating that it could not open boot.ini file and that the
> time to display list and os couldn't open. i clicked
> then on the "edit" button where it brought me to the
> settings window where the "time to display list of os"
> wasn't highlighted and the default os box was blank.
> notepad automatically activated stating that boot.ini
> couldn't be opened and that i should create a new one. i
> did so and now have a blank notepad file named boot.
> currently my "time to display list of os" is set to 0 and
> there are no items under my "default os" box. once more i
> am unsure if this is in any way connected to the shifting
> of my "all programs" menu. could you offer suggestions
> to that too if it is a separate problem?
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Hi David,
> >
> >The path is correct provided C is your boot drive.
> Please give a brief
> >description of your system hard drive setup as I
> mentioned before.
> >
> >Also, go to the control panel/system/advanced tab, click
> on startup and
> >recovery settings, then on the "edit" button - this
> should also open
> >boot.ini in notepad. Please copy/paste this into the
> response as well.
> >
> >--
> >Best of Luck,
> >
> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
> >
> >"David" > wrote in
> message
> ...
> >> it is the c drive. i think the path u sent was wrong.
> >> >-----Original Message-----
> >> >Hi David,
> >> >
> >> >What is your boot drive letter? Just change it
> >> accordingly.
> >> >
> >> >--
> >> >Best of Luck,
> >> >
> >> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
> >> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
> >> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
> >> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> >> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> >
> >> >"David" > wrote in
> >> message
> >> ...
> >> >> i went to start and run and input the path you sent.
> >> >> unfortunately, it replied thatwindows could not find
> >> >> C:\boot.ini
> >> >>
> >> >> >-----Original Message-----
> >> >> >Hi David,
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Start/run C:\boot.ini
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Click edit/select all/edit/copy, then open a reply
> to
> >> >> this post. Click in
> >> >> >the message text area and hit ctrl+v to paste the
> >> >> contents for examination.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Please also provide a short description of how your
> >> >> machine is set up (# of
> >> >> >hard drives, partitions, where XP is loaded, etc.).
> >> >> >
> >> >> >--
> >> >> >Best of Luck,
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
> >> >> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other
> hobby!
> >> >> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> >> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
> >> >> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> >> >> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> >> >
> >> >> >"david" >
> wrote in
> >> >> message
> >> >> ...
> >> >> >> right before windows xp is initialized i receive
> >> this
> >> >> >> command:
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> invalid boot.ini file
> >> >> >> booting from c:/windows
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> i've noticed since i got this message that the
> items
> >> >> >> under all programs in my start menu
> have "shifted"
> >> to
> >> >> the
> >> >> >> right in a sense that i can no longer see part of
> >> the
> >> >> >> items' names. i have not altered my monitor's
> >> >> dimension
> >> >> >> size nor do i wish too. i am unsure if the two
> >> >> incidents
> >> >> >> are linked and have not encountered any other
> >> problems
> >> >> >> YET. could someone please advise me on the
> >> situation
> >> >> and
> >> >> >> clear up any confusion on the current matter at
> >> hand.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >.
> >> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >.
> >> >
> >
> >
> >.
> >

[David]

in doing this do i risk losing all my information on my c
drive?
>-----Original Message-----
>Hi David,
>
>Boot.ini isn't corrupt, it was gone altogether. But this
should be too bad
>to fix. Boot the WinXP CD, load the Recovery Console
(see link below), from
>the command prompt run bootcfg /rebuild
>
>HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows
XP [Q307654]
>http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654
>
>--
>Best of Luck,
>
>Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
>http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>
>"David" > wrote in
message
...
>> it's difficult to describe my hard drive system
>> considering im not really a computer expert. i went to
>> where you said "control panel/system/advanced tab,
click
>> on startup and recovery settings. a message popped up
>> stating that it could not open boot.ini file and that
the
>> time to display list and os couldn't open. i clicked
>> then on the "edit" button where it brought me to the
>> settings window where the "time to display list of os"
>> wasn't highlighted and the default os box was blank.
>> notepad automatically activated stating that boot.ini
>> couldn't be opened and that i should create a new
one. i
>> did so and now have a blank notepad file named boot.
>> currently my "time to display list of os" is set to 0
and
>> there are no items under my "default os" box. once
more i
>> am unsure if this is in any way connected to the
shifting
>> of my "all programs" menu. could you offer suggestions
>> to that too if it is a separate problem?
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >Hi David,
>> >
>> >The path is correct provided C is your boot drive.
>> Please give a brief
>> >description of your system hard drive setup as I
>> mentioned before.
>> >
>> >Also, go to the control panel/system/advanced tab,
click
>> on startup and
>> >recovery settings, then on the "edit" button - this
>> should also open
>> >boot.ini in notepad. Please copy/paste this into the
>> response as well.
>> >
>> >--
>> >Best of Luck,
>> >
>> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
>> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>> >
>> >"David" > wrote in
>> message
>> ...
>> >> it is the c drive. i think the path u sent was
wrong.
>> >> >-----Original Message-----
>> >> >Hi David,
>> >> >
>> >> >What is your boot drive letter? Just change it
>> >> accordingly.
>> >> >
>> >> >--
>> >> >Best of Luck,
>> >> >
>> >> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>> >> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other
hobby!
>> >> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> >> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>> >> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>> >> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>> >> >
>> >> >"David" >
wrote in
>> >> message
>> >> ...
>> >> >> i went to start and run and input the path you
sent.
>> >> >> unfortunately, it replied thatwindows could not
find
>> >> >> C:\boot.ini
>> >> >>
>> >> >> >-----Original Message-----
>> >> >> >Hi David,
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >Start/run C:\boot.ini
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >Click edit/select all/edit/copy, then open a
reply
>> to
>> >> >> this post. Click in
>> >> >> >the message text area and hit ctrl+v to paste
the
>> >> >> contents for examination.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >Please also provide a short description of how
your
>> >> >> machine is set up (# of
>> >> >> >hard drives, partitions, where XP is loaded,
etc.).
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >--
>> >> >> >Best of Luck,
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>> >> >> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other
>> hobby!
>> >> >> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> >> >> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>> >> >> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>> >> >> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >"david" >
>> wrote in
>> >> >> message
>> >> >> ...
>> >> >> >> right before windows xp is initialized i
receive
>> >> this
>> >> >> >> command:
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> invalid boot.ini file
>> >> >> >> booting from c:/windows
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> i've noticed since i got this message that the
>> items
>> >> >> >> under all programs in my start menu
>> have "shifted"
>> >> to
>> >> >> the
>> >> >> >> right in a sense that i can no longer see
part of
>> >> the
>> >> >> >> items' names. i have not altered my monitor's
>> >> >> dimension
>> >> >> >> size nor do i wish too. i am unsure if the
two
>> >> >> incidents
>> >> >> >> are linked and have not encountered any other
>> >> problems
>> >> >> >> YET. could someone please advise me on the
>> >> situation
>> >> >> and
>> >> >> >> clear up any confusion on the current matter
at
>> >> hand.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >.
>> >> >
>> >
>> >
>> >.
>> >
>
>
>.
>

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi David,

No, there should be no risk of losing any information. This simply rebuilds
the boot files.

This does not lessen in any way the need to do periodic backups of critical
data, as you never know when things might go wrong. Sometimes, hard drives
fail with no warning, and I've personally felt the pain of a system
partition suddenly corrupted beyond repair.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org

"David" > wrote in message
...
> in doing this do i risk losing all my information on my c
> drive?
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Hi David,
> >
> >Boot.ini isn't corrupt, it was gone altogether. But this
> should be too bad
> >to fix. Boot the WinXP CD, load the Recovery Console
> (see link below), from
> >the command prompt run bootcfg /rebuild
> >
> >HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows
> XP [Q307654]
> >http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654
> >
> >--
> >Best of Luck,
> >
> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
> >
> >"David" > wrote in
> message
> ...
> >> it's difficult to describe my hard drive system
> >> considering im not really a computer expert. i went to
> >> where you said "control panel/system/advanced tab,
> click
> >> on startup and recovery settings. a message popped up
> >> stating that it could not open boot.ini file and that
> the
> >> time to display list and os couldn't open. i clicked
> >> then on the "edit" button where it brought me to the
> >> settings window where the "time to display list of os"
> >> wasn't highlighted and the default os box was blank.
> >> notepad automatically activated stating that boot.ini
> >> couldn't be opened and that i should create a new
> one. i
> >> did so and now have a blank notepad file named boot.
> >> currently my "time to display list of os" is set to 0
> and
> >> there are no items under my "default os" box. once
> more i
> >> am unsure if this is in any way connected to the
> shifting
> >> of my "all programs" menu. could you offer suggestions
> >> to that too if it is a separate problem?
> >>
> >> >-----Original Message-----
> >> >Hi David,
> >> >
> >> >The path is correct provided C is your boot drive.
> >> Please give a brief
> >> >description of your system hard drive setup as I
> >> mentioned before.
> >> >
> >> >Also, go to the control panel/system/advanced tab,
> click
> >> on startup and
> >> >recovery settings, then on the "edit" button - this
> >> should also open
> >> >boot.ini in notepad. Please copy/paste this into the
> >> response as well.
> >> >
> >> >--
> >> >Best of Luck,
> >> >
> >> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
> >> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
> >> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
> >> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> >> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> >
> >> >"David" > wrote in
> >> message
> >> ...
> >> >> it is the c drive. i think the path u sent was
> wrong.
> >> >> >-----Original Message-----
> >> >> >Hi David,
> >> >> >
> >> >> >What is your boot drive letter? Just change it
> >> >> accordingly.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >--
> >> >> >Best of Luck,
> >> >> >
> >> >> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
> >> >> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other
> hobby!
> >> >> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> >> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
> >> >> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> >> >> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> >> >
> >> >> >"David" >
> wrote in
> >> >> message
> >> >> ...
> >> >> >> i went to start and run and input the path you
> sent.
> >> >> >> unfortunately, it replied thatwindows could not
> find
> >> >> >> C:\boot.ini
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >-----Original Message-----
> >> >> >> >Hi David,
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >Start/run C:\boot.ini
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >Click edit/select all/edit/copy, then open a
> reply
> >> to
> >> >> >> this post. Click in
> >> >> >> >the message text area and hit ctrl+v to paste
> the
> >> >> >> contents for examination.
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >Please also provide a short description of how
> your
> >> >> >> machine is set up (# of
> >> >> >> >hard drives, partitions, where XP is loaded,
> etc.).
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >--
> >> >> >> >Best of Luck,
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
> >> >> >> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other
> >> hobby!
> >> >> >> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> >> >> >> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
> >> >> >> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> >> >> >> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >"david" >
> >> wrote in
> >> >> >> message
> >> >> >> ...
> >> >> >> >> right before windows xp is initialized i
> receive
> >> >> this
> >> >> >> >> command:
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> invalid boot.ini file
> >> >> >> >> booting from c:/windows
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> i've noticed since i got this message that the
> >> items
> >> >> >> >> under all programs in my start menu
> >> have "shifted"
> >> >> to
> >> >> >> the
> >> >> >> >> right in a sense that i can no longer see
> part of
> >> >> the
> >> >> >> >> items' names. i have not altered my monitor's
> >> >> >> dimension
> >> >> >> >> size nor do i wish too. i am unsure if the
> two
> >> >> >> incidents
> >> >> >> >> are linked and have not encountered any other
> >> >> problems
> >> >> >> >> YET. could someone please advise me on the
> >> >> situation
> >> >> >> and
> >> >> >> >> clear up any confusion on the current matter
> at
> >> >> hand.
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >.
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >.
> >> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >.
> >> >
> >
> >
> >.
> >

[David]

[operating systems]
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery
Console" /cmdcons

just installed win xp recovery and now i have this in my
boot file. the default os is now set to "Microsoft
Windows Recovery Console"/cmdcons.
i am no longer receiving the invalid boot.ini message but
am unclear if everything is ok. plus my all programs menu
is still shifted to the right and i am unable to set it
to its correct position. also i don't exactly see where
i am supposed to initiate recovery console. as soon as i
restarted this was all present.

>-----Original Message-----
>Hi David,
>
>No, there should be no risk of losing any information.
This simply rebuilds
>the boot files.
>
>This does not lessen in any way the need to do periodic
backups of critical
>data, as you never know when things might go wrong.
Sometimes, hard drives
>fail with no warning, and I've personally felt the pain
of a system
>partition suddenly corrupted beyond repair.
>
>--
>Best of Luck,
>
>Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
>http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>
>"David" > wrote in
message
...
>> in doing this do i risk losing all my information on
my c
>> drive?
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >Hi David,
>> >
>> >Boot.ini isn't corrupt, it was gone altogether. But
this
>> should be too bad
>> >to fix. Boot the WinXP CD, load the Recovery Console
>> (see link below), from
>> >the command prompt run bootcfg /rebuild
>> >
>> >HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in
Windows
>> XP [Q307654]
>> >http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654
>> >
>> >--
>> >Best of Luck,
>> >
>> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!
>> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>> >
>> >"David" > wrote in
>> message
>> ...
>> >> it's difficult to describe my hard drive system
>> >> considering im not really a computer expert. i
went to
>> >> where you said "control panel/system/advanced tab,
>> click
>> >> on startup and recovery settings. a message popped
up
>> >> stating that it could not open boot.ini file and
that
>> the
>> >> time to display list and os couldn't open. i clicked
>> >> then on the "edit" button where it brought me to the
>> >> settings window where the "time to display list of
os"
>> >> wasn't highlighted and the default os box was blank.
>> >> notepad automatically activated stating that
boot.ini
>> >> couldn't be opened and that i should create a new
>> one. i
>> >> did so and now have a blank notepad file named boot.
>> >> currently my "time to display list of os" is set to
0
>> and
>> >> there are no items under my "default os" box. once
>> more i
>> >> am unsure if this is in any way connected to the
>> shifting
>> >> of my "all programs" menu. could you offer
suggestions
>> >> to that too if it is a separate problem?
>> >>
>> >> >-----Original Message-----
>> >> >Hi David,
>> >> >
>> >> >The path is correct provided C is your boot drive.
>> >> Please give a brief
>> >> >description of your system hard drive setup as I
>> >> mentioned before.
>> >> >
>> >> >Also, go to the control panel/system/advanced tab,
>> click
>> >> on startup and
>> >> >recovery settings, then on the "edit" button - this
>> >> should also open
>> >> >boot.ini in notepad. Please copy/paste this into
the
>> >> response as well.
>> >> >
>> >> >--
>> >> >Best of Luck,
>> >> >
>> >> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>> >> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other
hobby!
>> >> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> >> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>> >> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>> >> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>> >> >
>> >> >"David" >
wrote in
>> >> message
>> >> ...
>> >> >> it is the c drive. i think the path u sent was
>> wrong.
>> >> >> >-----Original Message-----
>> >> >> >Hi David,
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >What is your boot drive letter? Just change it
>> >> >> accordingly.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >--
>> >> >> >Best of Luck,
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>> >> >> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other
>> hobby!
>> >> >> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> >> >> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>> >> >> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>> >> >> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >"David" >
>> wrote in
>> >> >> message
>> >> >> ...
>> >> >> >> i went to start and run and input the path you
>> sent.
>> >> >> >> unfortunately, it replied thatwindows could
not
>> find
>> >> >> >> C:\boot.ini
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >-----Original Message-----
>> >> >> >> >Hi David,
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >Start/run C:\boot.ini
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >Click edit/select all/edit/copy, then open a
>> reply
>> >> to
>> >> >> >> this post. Click in
>> >> >> >> >the message text area and hit ctrl+v to paste
>> the
>> >> >> >> contents for examination.
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >Please also provide a short description of
how
>> your
>> >> >> >> machine is set up (# of
>> >> >> >> >hard drives, partitions, where XP is loaded,
>> etc.).
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >--
>> >> >> >> >Best of Luck,
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
>> >> >> >> >Windows isn't rocket science! That's my
other
>> >> hobby!
>> >> >> >> >http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
>> >> >> >> >Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
>> >> >> >> >www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>> >> >> >> >Win98 Help - www.rickrogers.org
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >"david" >
>> >> wrote in
>> >> >> >> message
>> >> >> >> >news:c58901c3ed67$0eda5570
...
>> >> >> >> >> right before windows xp is initialized i
>> receive
>> >> >> this
>> >> >> >> >> command:
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> invalid boot.ini file
>> >> >> >> >> booting from c:/windows
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> i've noticed since i got this message that
the
>> >> items
>> >> >> >> >> under all programs in my start menu
>> >> have "shifted"
>> >> >> to
>> >> >> >> the
>> >> >> >> >> right in a sense that i can no longer see
>> part of
>> >> >> the
>> >> >> >> >> items' names. i have not altered my
monitor's
>> >> >> >> dimension
>> >> >> >> >> size nor do i wish too. i am unsure if the
>> two
>> >> >> >> incidents
>> >> >> >> >> are linked and have not encountered any
other
>> >> >> problems
>> >> >> >> >> YET. could someone please advise me on the
>> >> >> situation
>> >> >> >> and
>> >> >> >> >> clear up any confusion on the current
matter
>> at
>> >> >> hand.
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >.
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >.
>> >> >
>> >
>> >
>> >.
>> >
>
>
>.
>