invalid boot.ini file error on startup

noobie,
If you boot to the recovery console, you should be able to run bootcfg /rebuild

That should recreate a valid boot.ini file. Let me know how it goes!

Take a floppy disk, and from a working system with a similar hardware configuration (drive type, partition), copy boot.ini, ntdetect.com, and ntldr from the root of C to the floppy.  Then boot the downed system with this floppy.  It should boot if the configs match on the 2 systems.  If not, you may need to modify the path in the boot.ini file.

Sometimes it can be difficult to copy files that your system is missing from another PC, using recovery options can also be a bit puzzling

From what you have said, you might just want to connect the duff drive to another system (Any, as long as it is the same file system) and transfer all your stuff on to that PC, then burn it onto a CD. and get a new HD, or format the original and re-install windows, then transfer all your stuff from the cd! *when you are doing this you might want to copy your profile across also, this will save you having to re-configure your environment again.

I'm not sure the recovery console is really all that confusing.

Boot from the installation CD.
Hit "R" at the first menu to enter recovery console.
Type "bootcfg /rebuild" at the prompt and restart by typing EXIT.

if nothing else works, such as modifiying the boot.ini file which is what I would try out, try getting a copy of knopixx. Its a Live OS. You just pop in the CD, and you computer will boot up from CD. Not the HD. You will have access to the HD and can safley bakup any information you might need.

Cheers!

http://www.knoppix.org/

DVation191, i think i tried that and it didnt work, someone already suggested that to me.. knoppix was also suggested and havent tried it out yet, ill keep you guys posted

what error did you get? after running that command? I only ask because the boot.ini wouldn't be invalid after running it...so you're probably missing some system files require for boot at this point

DVation191, I would submit to you that if noobie was proficient in using the Recovery console he would not be asking us for advice on what I would call a very basic task for an IT Professional (getting a system that won't boot to boot).

After all said and done, it would be nice for him to come out of this situation with a nice freshly installed O/S and his Data on a cd ready to copy back to his own directory.

                                              *and a valuble lesson regarding Backing up your data can be heeded*

yes  i know, i realized i made a huge mistake by procrastinating my backups..

well some good news here, i am currently on knoppix and i am actually typing on my broken machine, although an expert said that my hard drive is about to die.. i am not able to find my stuff though, i found some of it but im not used to the way linux arranges folders/drives, could someone please help me navigate to my stuff?

thanks a bunch

also, how wouldi go about burning my stuff to a cd from linux?

i just found k3b in knoppix..will work with that and try to burn the files

problem, i have about 30gb worth of stuff to backup..

whats the best way about doing this? buying another hard drive and putting it in as  a slave, would knoppix recognize it?

buying a usb storage drive, or what..

it would take like 30 cds..

thanks

exactly what I thought. Thats why I recomended buying another HD. Your current HD is failing anyways, so your bound to buy another one anyways.

Knoopix will recognize the HD just like it recognizes your current drive. Just make sure you Setup your new HD with the diskette it comes with, since you won't be able to format it through windows ....

So I would basiclly go that way. Get a new drive, pop it in, set it up with the HD installation diskette, and boot into knopixx. and your all done. No special settings or configurations ...