"Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows could not start" error messages when you start your computer| Article ID | : | 330184 | | Last Review | : | May 7, 2007 | | Revision | : | 2.3 |
This article was previously published under Q330184 SYMPTOMS When you start your computer after you upgrade to Microsoft Windows
XP, you may receive one or both of the following error messages:
Invalid Boot.ini
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
Windows\System32\Hal.dll Back to the top
CAUSE This issue may occur if the Boot.ini file is missing,
damaged, or contains incorrect entries. Back to the top
RESOLUTION To resolve this issue, start the computer from the Windows
XP CD, start the Recovery Console, and then use the Bootcfg.exe tool to rebuild
the Boot.ini file. To do this, follow these steps:
| 1. | Configure the computer to start from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM
drive. For information about how to do this, see your computer documentation, or
contact your computer manufacturer. | | 2. | Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM
drive, and then restart your computer. | | 3. | When you receive the "Press any key to boot from CD" message,
press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM. | | 4. | When you receive the "Welcome to Setup" message, press R to
start the Recovery Console. | | 5. | If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select
the installation that you have to use from the Recovery Console. | | 6. | When you are prompted, type the administrator
password, and then press ENTER. | | 7. | At the command prompt, type bootcfg
/list, and then press ENTER. The entries in your current Boot.ini
file appear on the screen. | | 8. | At the command prompt, type bootcfg
/rebuild, and then press ENTER. This command scans the hard disks
of the computer for Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000, or Microsoft Windows NT
installations, and then displays the results. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen
to add the Windows installations to the Boot.ini file. For example, follow these steps to add a Windows XP installation to the Boot.ini file:
| a. | When you receive a message that is similar to the
following message, press Y: Total Identified Windows Installs:
1
[1] C:\Windows Add installation to boot list?
(Yes/No/All) | | b. | You receive a message that is similar to the following message: Enter Load Identifier This
is the name of the operating system. When you receive this message, type the name
of your operating system, and then press ENTER. This is either
Microsoft Windows XP Professional or
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition. | | c. | You receive a message that is similar to the following:
Enter OS Load options When you receive this message, type
/fastdetect, and then press ENTER.
Note The
instructions that appear on your screen may be different, depending on
the configuration of your computer. |
| | 9. | Type exit, and then press ENTER to
quit Recovery Console. Your computer restarts, and the updated boot list appears when you receive the "Please select the operating system to start"
message. |
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MORE INFORMATION
For additional information about the Bootcfg.exe
tool, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
291980 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291980/)
A discussion about the Bootcfg command and its uses
For additional information about the Recovery
Console, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
289022 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289022/)
How to edit the Boot.ini File in Windows XP
307654 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/) How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
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APPLIES TO| • | Microsoft Windows XP Professional | | • | Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition |
Back to the top
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