Re: boot.ini disappears on restart or startup XP Pro

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"saltcity" wrote:



"Twayne" wrote:

saltcity wrote:
"Elmo" wrote:

saltcity wrote:
Last week the boot.ini file disappeared from my c:\ drive and the
boot.ini tab disappeared from msconfig. I can recreate the file
using notepad or by going to the control panel (system - advanced
- start up and recovery - edit) and paste the boot.ini text
there. (I have made the files "unhidden").

Whenever I restart or shut down the computer then turn it back on
the boot.ini file has been deleted again and the boot.ini tab from
msconfig is no longer present.

The message I get on startup is "Invalid boot.ini file. Booting
from C:\Windows".

I believe this is looking at the C:\Windows\Pss directory for the
backup boot file. After this message disappears from the start-up
procedure it seems to boot normally.

I am looking for help on finding why the boot.ini file is being
deleted and a solution to keep it in place.

The boot.ini file on C:\ is ----

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /PAE


* The PC is a HP XW8200 quad core 2.
* No Windows XP Pro install disk was received with the machine.

Thank you,

Try making the file Read Only. That might prevent it from being
deleted.. Also limit the amount of files in the root folder, C:\

That MIGHT prevent its (boot.ini) demise.

--
Joe =o)


Hi Joe,

Verified that the boot.ini was read only and hidden. Same situation
as before, it disappeared.......on restart......

I have 11 files in the root directory of c:\ plus 17 folders.
43.8 gb free out of 70 gb on this drive. 2 other drives on this
machine.

It isn't the number of files of folders in the root causing your
problem; you can forget about that. IT's either malware or file
corruption. Truthfully, sounds like malware to me. Update your AV and
spyware detectors and do full scans of your system.
Meanwhile, create a "spare" boot.ini you can copy over for when you
need it.

Run them from Safe Mode for the ones that will run that way. Some may
not.
If that doesn't work other measures may be needed.

Let us know what AV and spyware detection software you used too, please.

HTH,

Twayne`




Using Malwarebytes - Anti-Malware, SuperAntiSpyware and AVG Antivirus
I had run SuperAnvirus and AVG yesterday but not in 'safe mode'.

Running all in 'save mode' this afternoon.





.

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