Changing boot.ini corrupted booting up 1

[CorbinMyMan]

I'm running a Windows 2003 Server machine (my exchange server) and I was modifying the boot.ini to accomidate for the 8 gigs of RAM in it. Well I added the /usernva=3030 switch and rebooted and it gave an error about the ntokrnl needed to be reinstalled (sorry i dont' have the exact error). So I rebooted and hit F8 to pick last known good configuration and it did it again.

So I reboot again and now it comes to a prompt and asked me to pick which OS to boot, but both of my options are exactly the same: Windows.

So I pick the bottom option and I get the same error. But when I pick the top option it works fine.

My question is how can I fix this so it doesn't ask me which OS to boot to and it will automaticall pick the top option that works.

Thank you!

 

[porkchopexpress]

Pick the one that allows you to boot and then edit the boot.ini file i suspect that you have accidentally added a line that makes the boot loader think there is another partition with another copy of Windows installed.

[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="Windows Server 2003, Standard" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut

 

[CorbinMyMan]

here's what my boot.ini look like, i'm scared to make any changes because this is our primary mail server and i can't afford to not have it boot back up:

[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="Windows Server 2003, Enterprise" /fastdetect /3GB /NoExecute=OptOut /PAE

Remember when it boots and I pick the Second operating system option thats when i get the problems. But when I pick the first one it boots fine.

Thank you!

 

[porkchopexpress]

The only thing i can see is the [operating systems] is on the next line, i've checked more than one of my servers.

Can you not restore an old boot.ini from a backup?

 

[porkchopexpress]

You could also go into Control Panel - System then select advanced then Startup and Recovery and select which option you want Windows too pick by default.

 

[CorbinMyMan]

Hmmm... would you believe that in the Control Panel - System there are no options to select a default??

Hmmmm

Think moving the [Operating System] to the new line would fix it? and what about the equal sign before it? does it need to be there, its not in other boot.ini of my other server 2003 servers.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[porkchopexpress]

Ok well usually that should only be there it there's really two OS's installed. I don't think the = should be there either do you remember putting it there?

Backup the current boot.ini to a floppy then you can always replace it if it will no longer boot.

 

[CorbinMyMan]

I think that did it. The = wasn't suppose to be there and probably got added last night when I was modifying the file to accomodate some exchange server memory errors. After removing the = and carriage returning the [Operating Systems] line to the next line, it showed up my OS in the Control Panel -> System

I think it will work great when I reboot, but I'm gonna wait till office closes down since this is my primary exchange server.

Thanks for all your help! I'll keep you informed~!

 

[CorbinMyMan]

That worked perfectly! Afer editing the boot.ini and removing the = and appropriately placing everything it booted great.

thanks for all the help!

 

[porkchopexpress]

No probs.