NT 4.0 boot.ini file contents (WNT)

[POBrien]

Hi All,

Needing some help. I'm in the process of creating a boot switcher program for all versions of Windows. I don't have NT 4.0 installed at this time. I need to take a look at the boot.ini file for an NT 4.0 workstation. Could someone who is running NT 4.0, please post the contents of your boot.ini file. It would be very much appreciated.

Thank you,

POBrien

[rocki]

try these links

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=99743

for more details on the various switches

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;170756

an example boot.ini

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

[BertImmenschuh]

Pat, I thought sure after all the time you've been in this forum you'd still have a WinNT 4 machine running. LOL

Seriously, I don't have an NT4 box running but if you don't get a reply with an actual Boot.ini from NT4 by Wed. eve., I'll set one up. I was just looking at the NT4 Workstation disk set and it didn't have an example on any of them.

Good judgement comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgement

[POBrien]

Hi Bert,

Good morning. So true, so true. I had it on my older pc but removed it to free up some space.

Thanks alot. I appreciate your offer. I need to reinstall it anyways but was hoping to find a boot.ini for now.

Pat




POBrien

[POBrien]

Hi Rocki,

Thanks for those links. I'll check them out.

Yes, I need to see the exact wording in this section

"Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional"

example, is it:

"Microsoft Windows NT 4.0"

or

"Microsoft Windows NT 4"

etc..



POBrien

[jdharm]

From a WinNT 4.0 Workstation, SP6a :

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows NT Workstation Version 4.00"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows NT Workstation Version 4.00 [VGA mode]" /basevideo /sos



Just in case the word wrap alters things, that is 6 lines of text.


Josh

The preceeding was from the "For What It's Worth" files, which by definition may be worthless. Take with a grain or ten of salt.

[POBrien]

Excellent. Exactly what I needed. Thanks JD!

Pat

POBrien

[jdharm]

"Temba, his arms open."

Josh

The preceeding was from the "For What It's Worth" files, which by definition may be worthless. Take with a grain or ten of salt.

[Jama]

Patrick,
I’m sure you are aware of this but just in case you overlooked it, the text to the right of the equal sign in the boot file has no value apart from allowing users to distinguish between OSs. In other words, you can modify it to whatever you want. So if I run your boot swicher on my pc, it will generate an error since I changed the text in my boot.ini
Here is my boot file [what’s in blue is custom text that I added]

<pre>[boot loader]
timeout=20
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect <font color=blue>/KERNEL=kernel1.exe</font color=blue>
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(5)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional <font color=blue>NEW installation</font color=blue>" /fastdetect
C:\="<font color=blue>Microsoft Windows Millennium</font color=blue>"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect
<font color=blue>C:\LiloBoot.bin="Linux Mandrake 8.0"</font color=blue>
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console<font color=blue> - Administrators Only</font color=blue>" /cmdcons</pre>

In short, don’t rely on the content of the boot.ini file to find out which operating systems are installed.

Jama

[POBrien]

Hi Jama,

Thanks for the heads up. Yes, I am.

There will be a message upon install that will state that fact and that the user should not use Boot Switcher. Even if the user continues, Boot Switcher will ignore the line entirely and do nothing. The Online Help will explain it in detail as well. The install will also make a backup copy of the original boot.ini file (which isn't necessary but will make the user feel secure).

If the user has two identical installs on seperate partitions, Boot Switcher will only work with the first line.

Also, I don't think basic users may not understand the benefits of using Boot Switcher (actually, they probably won't even have a dual boot setup), so I will reference in the Minimum Requirements section at the download sites (For Advanced Users Only).

Thanks again, I sincerely appreciate your concern and important warning.

Pat