NT Boot files

[kdeans]

NT 4 SP 6a NTFS
I have a 40 gig hard drive that was originally configured as a couple gig partition and then expanded with partition magic 4. Since then it has had an awful lot of software installed. It is primarily used to manage a Netware environment and has numerous tools and utilities. It locked up while trying to burn a disk the other day and had to be unceremoniously shut down. It will not boot since. I have tried a CD boot NT repair with and without the recovery disk that was last updated about a year ago. I can read the drive (NTFS) as a slave after booting from an early clone of this hard drive so I am convinced that it only needs the proper boot files. If I have to save/wipe and redo it will be a daunting and lengthy task. Can anyone advise me as to the steps to take toward the recovery of this valuable device?

 

[BillieWhiskers]

Do you get any type of error message?
Something like ntldr not found?

 

[techierick]

In the past i've been able to make a boot floppy of sorts. you just put the ntldr, ntdetect,boot.ini on a floppy. May or may not work, but i've had some luck with it. Never was able to recover the system, but was able to boot it from floppy for months until i could redo the server.

Rick

 

[kdeans]

I have replaced the ntldr, ntdetect and ntoskrnl.exe files (they were replaced to '96 versions with the attemted repair and I replaced them with the versions from SP 6a that were dated '99). This allows the drive to boot to the point of an error message as follows...

OS Loader V4.01

Windows NT could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem.
Could not read from selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware.
Please check the Windows NT (TM) documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for additional information.

I got this message even before I replaced the ntoskrnl.exe.

 

[kdeans]

I changed the line in the boot.ini file from default=scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT to default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT.
I now receive a new error as follows...

OS Loader V4.01

.Disk I/O error: Status=00000001
Windows NT could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: <winnt root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe.
Please re-install a copy of the above file.

I have tried with the new and old ntoskrnl files with no different results. I am inclined to beleive that something is missing in allowing the stuff loaded to this point the ability to see the 38 or so gig partition and thus the system32 directory. Is it in fact a separate boot and system partition? Any suggestions may help.

 

[Guest_imported]

I had the same problem with NT4, ntoskrnl.exe missing... this error message is mis-leading. There is nothing wrong with this file, the problem is that it can not find this file because the boot.ini is lookin gin the wrong place.

Boot.ini is trying to load NT on the wrong partition. To get arround this I had to extract the Boot.ini file and amend the patition. I hope the folloing helps...

Following error appears…. During rebuild or Blue Screen of Death

Windows NT could not start because the following file was missing or corrupt: \system32\ntoskrnl.exe Please reinstall a copy of the above file.

If Windows NT does not start, the problem may be that the path for the system root folder, found in the boot.ini file is incorrect. If that is the case, the boot.ini file must be edited.

If a boot can be done from a boot diskette, boot.ini can be edited to fix the problem, or an Emergency Repair can be used to restore the boot.ini file.

Example of Boot .ini
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT=&quot;Windows NT Workstation Version 4.00&quot;
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT=&quot;Windows NT Workstation Version 4.00 [VGA mode]&quot; /basevideo /sos

With some PC they may have a hidden partition with diagnostics utilities, for example Compaq PC.
In the case this line will have to be amended with the correct partition number multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(X)\WINNT=&quot;Windows NT Workstation Version 4.00&quot;

If you are unable to edit the file you will have to copy the Boot.INI file to another PC so it can be amended

Boot with the NT DOS Disk.
Remove attributes,
C:\ATTRIB –S –R C:BOOT.INI
Copy file to floppy
C:\Copy Boot.ini A:
Amend Boot.INI on other PC
Copy back
A:\ Copy Boot.ini C:
Add attributes,
C:\ATTRIB +S +R C:BOOT.INI
Type exit to reboot PC

Note you may loose the \ symbol so use spaces.

OR

I you have a disk which boots into WINNT, multiple partitions or you are find another way of getting into WINNT. Then you can simply find boot.ini and amended it. Note you will have to write click on Boot.ini and remove attributes before you can amend and save file. Do not forget to put attributes back after amending.

 

[Guest_imported]

Before going too far down the line, I hope you have a backup of all this important data! Or make an image of the disk...

If the above posters suggestions don't work, you could try doing a re-install of NT into the original sub-directory. If that doesn't work, then install into a new dir. At least you'll have the disk booting...

ROGER - GØAOZ.