“Invalid BOOT.INI file” error
Sometimes, after a sleepless night you are about to drop your coffee cup all over you. And this is because of an error message: “Invalid BOOT.INI file”, suddenly appearing after you boot up your computer.
“Invalid Boot.ini” or “Windows could not start” are windows boot.ini related errors. Windows could not start because Windows\System32\Hal.dll file is missing, corrupt, or contains invalid entries. Boot.ini contains a list of windows operating systems installed onto a computer.
How can you fix up this and make this errors disappear?
We aren’t going into too much philosophy. There are 2 easy and working methods. First one is about to rebuild the bootcfg and the second one is about restoring the boot.ini using its backup. For both methods you’ll need to use recovery console. To get it, reboot your computer, insert the windows cd inside the cd unit, boot up from cd, press R to enter the recovery console then press 1 to edit the windows installed on primary partition, regularly located in C:. From now follow me on this separate two ways possible:
1. Rebuild the bootcfg.
Once the recovery console is open and you got the MS-DOS prompter, type: bootcfg /rebuild (it’s a space between bootcfg and forward slash!) and press ENTER. After a couples of seconds you will get Y/N message. Just type Y. For load identifier type windows XP if you’re running XP on your pc. After all, under OS Load Options type: – /fastdetect and press ENTER again. Type EXIT and your computer will reboot in normal working mode.
2. Restoring the boot.ini
Using the same MS-DOS console (I told you that you need to learn MS-DOS someday!) get C:\Windows\pss and there should be a file named: boot.ini.backup. Copy it in C: root, delete the boot.ini and rename the new file (boot.ini.backup) boot.ini. Reboot, drink a beer and don’t stop reading my blog ;)
Mission accomplished!
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Thank you for this information. Option #2 above worked when all else failed. I googled the issue and tried many suggested fixes, but your second option is the only one that worked.
Thank you! One suggestion though when you say “Copy it in C: root” I think you should say “copy it to C:\”
Thanks for correction Paul! Second method did the job for me too.
hey man when i type 1 it said ”the command is not recognised type help for a list of supported commands”’ help please
no when i type bootcfg /rebuild an error messege apperars”’failed to successfully scan disks for windowsinstallations. this error may be caused by corrupt file system , which would prevent bootcfg from succesfully scanning use chkdsk to detect any disk errors
lucky, it may be a problem with your HDD.
Newly I start using Hiren’s Boot CD and UBCD4win builder to fix disk problems prior windows installation when is giving me this kind of errors. I recommend you to try fix the disk prior win install.
what is hdd please tell me and how can i fix the cd
srry i know what is hdd but how can i fix dis help me
hey bro i made it but when i went to step dat say enter load identifie i type in the word you gave(- /fastdetect) and something else appears it says enteros load option tell me please whta should i do? i am too close ………..i am so happy hahahahhahahahahahahhahah reply soon man
i done everythig you told but nothing happens my pc restarts again and again please man help me reply please