Re: Multiple Versions at Boot

From: R. C. White (rc_at_corridor.net)
Date: 02/15/05 

Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2005 23:04:46 -0600

Hi, Sam.

Yes, as Ron Sommer said, and as the computer gods have decreed (Who knows
why?), counting of your hard drives begins with zero. But counting the
partitions starts with one on each hard drive. (Some other time we'll
discuss rdisk() and why partitions() includes logical drives in the extended
partition.)

In boot.ini, the bottom portion, under [operating systems], should list all
the Microsoft operating systems that you have installed, with one line each.
You can have only a single MS-DOS or Win9x/ME installation (referred to with
the C:\="Microsoft Windows 98" kind of line), plus one or more instances of
WinNT4, Win2K, WinXP and perhaps others (Windows 2003 Server, Longhorn,
etc.), mix and match. The Default line in the top portion, under [Boot
Loader], should echo one of those operating system lines. My first reply
correctly showed rdisk(0), but your next post showed rdisk(1) - which didn't
work.

If you'd like to understand more about the Boot.ini file, you might like to
read this part of the online version of the Windows XP Professional Resource
Kit:
Reviewing and Correcting Boot.ini Settings on x86-based Systems
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prmc_str_masc.asp

Sometimes these URLS don't land on exactly the page I have in mind. If you
get lost, it's in Chapter 28 of the RK.

RC 

-- 
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc@corridor.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
"Sam" <Sam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message 
news:8F62282E-DA87-43AB-B1D2-E83A239CDD54@microsoft.com...
> Now that's a good point - why? What does it mean? I probably need to have
> that as (0)? Your comments appreciated. Thanks.
>
> "Ron Sommer" wrote:
>
>> Why do you have rdisk(1)?
>> Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
>> -- 
>> Ron Sommer
>>
>> "Sam" <Sam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:C970C8BF-145A-45F3-B829-F4A0504006EC@microsoft.com...
>> > Hi,
>> >
>> > I have edited my boot.ini as follows:
>> >
>> > [Boot Loader]
>> > Timeout=5
>> > Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
>> > [Operating Systems]
>> > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>> > Professional" /fastdetect
>> >
>> > But when starting I still get 2 operatng system options i.e. Windows XP
>> > Professional and Windows (Default). I want to get rid of Windows 
>> > (Default)
>> > option. How?
>> >
>> > On selecting WIndows (Default) to see what happens - I get the 
>> > following
>> > error:
>> > file (Windows root)\system32\hal.dll corrupt or missing - re-intall the
>> > file.
>> >
>> > All help appreciated. Sam
>> >
>> > "R. C. White" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hi, Sam.
>> >>
>> >> This line:
>> >> > Default=C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT
>> >>
>> >> is trying to load MS-DOS or Win9x/ME.  Changing it to:
>> >> > Default=C:\
>> >>
>> >> didn't help you.
>> >>
>> >> What you need is to have it default to the only valid choice, so make 
>> >> it:
>> >> Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
>> >>
>> >> This lets NTLDR locate the WinXP boot folder, which is named WINDOWS 
>> >> and
>> >> is
>> >> in the first partition on your first HD, in other words:  C:\WINDOWS
>> >>
>> >> There are several ways you can make the edit.  Probably the easiest is 
>> >> to
>> >> go
>> >> to System Properties | Advanced | Startup and Recovery / Settings.  In
>> >> the
>> >> top section, click the Edit button; this will open C:\boot.ini in
>> >> Notepad,
>> >> so that you don't have to deal with the System, Hidden and Read-only
>> >> attributes.
>> >>
>> >> When we install WinXP as a dual-boot with Win9x/ME, WinXP Setup first
>> >> preserves the MS-DOS-style boot sector as C:\bootsect.dat, and adds a
>> >> final
>> >> line to C:\boot.ini, that says something like:
>> >> C:\="Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition"
>> >>
>> >> Your boot.ini somehow got corrupted into a form that could not boot
>> >> either
>> >> Win9x/ME or WinXP.
>> >>
>> >> When WinXP detects only one valid choice on boot-up, it simply loads 
>> >> that
>> >> one without presenting the menu or waiting for a timeout, so you may
>> >> never
>> >> see the menu again.
>> >>
>> >> RC
>> >>
>> >> "Sam" <Sam@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:03E9D763-8C9A-40B7-BF97-F7B1C4BC83E0@microsoft.com...
>> >> > Hi,
>> >> >
>> >> > I have the same problem. I have two choices on start-up (1) Windows 
>> >> > XP
>> >> > Professional and (2) Windows (Default). I would like to delete the
>> >> > Windows
>> >> > (Default). My boot.ini shows
>> >> >
>> >> > [Boot Loader]
>> >> > Timeout=5
>> >> > Default=C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT
>> >> > [Operating Systems]
>> >> > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>> >> > Professional" /fastdetect
>> >> >
>> >> > I changed this to:
>> >> >
>> >> > [Boot Loader]
>> >> > Timeout=5
>> >> > Default=C:\
>> >> > [Operating Systems]
>> >> > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>> >> > Professional" /fastdetect
>> >> >
>> >> > Still same problem - if I choose Windows (Default) it says missing
>> >> > system
>> >> > files or something. How do I delete Windows (Default)?
>> >> >
>> >> > "Alex Nichol" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> Ron wrote:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> >At Boot up of my Windows XP I have 2 versions that i have
>> >> >> >to select from for booting up my Windows XP.  How do I
>> >> >> >delete the one I do not wnat?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Control Panel - System - Advanced, in Startup and Error click
>> >> >> Settings,
>> >> >> then click Edit
>> >> >>
>> >> >> That loads the boot.ini file into Notepad and you can there delete 
>> >> >> the
>> >> >> line in operating systems referring to the one you do not want
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> -- 
>> >> >> Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
>> >> >> Bournemouth, U.K.  Alexn@mvps.D8E8L.org (remove the D8 bit)
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