[Inactive] Invalid boot.ini

[Jawshh]

Hi,

I have been having some trouble with my old PC lately. First, there is this INVALID Boot.INI Message I get when I turn on my computer. The message is:

INVALID BOOT.INI
Booting from C:/WINDOWS

Secondly, I cannot find my hosts file in etc folder, I need to steup acces for some programs but I can find it even with a search. However, when I look for it with CMD, it's there. I also have the option "show hidden files...." ticked.

Any help?

Thanks,
Josh

 

[Broni]

Does the computer boot normally after displaying this:

INVALID BOOT.INI
Booting from C:/WINDOWS

Please download SystemLook from one of the links below and save it to your Desktop.
Download Mirror #1
Download Mirror #2

• Double-click SystemLook.exe to run it.
• Vista users:: Right click on SystemLook.exe, click Run As Administrator
• Copy the content of the following box into the main textfield:
  

  :dir
  C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
  :contents
  C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

• Click the Look button to start the scan.
• When finished, a notepad window will open with the results of the scan. Please post this log in your next reply.

Note: The log can also be found on your Desktop entitled SystemLook.txt

 

[Jawshh]

Does the computer boot normally after displaying this:

Yes it does boot correctly.

The log file is in the attachment.

Thanks for your reply,
Josh

 

[Broni]

For some reason your "hosts" file is set as system file (it shouldn't be).
To see the file, beside allowing hidden files view, you have to enable system files view.
Tool>Folder options>View tab, UN-check "Hide protected operating system files"

BTW, your "hosts" file contains following line:

block wga 127.0.0.1 mpa.one.microsoft.com

Do you have legit Windows version installed?

As for "boot.ini"....

Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
Under System Startup, click Edit. This will open boot.ini file in Notepad.
Copy all content, and post it in your next reply.

 

[Jawshh]

Hi,

Yes the copy is legit, I got it from my computer store in 2005. It seems like it's blocking WGA validation. I'll try to remove that entry. Thanks for the hosts file.

The when I click edit under system startup, I get a blank notepad. Nothing else. What does this mean?

Josh

 

[Broni]

Hmmm....I'm not sure yet.

Re-run SystemLook with following code:

:filefind
boot.ini

 

[Jawshh]

Hi,

System Look results in attachment. It says 0 bytes

 

[Broni]

Hmmm....is this Windows XP?

 

[Jawshh]

Yes it is, sorry I forgot to mention before.

 

[Broni]

Follow this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330184

 

[Jawshh]

Hi,

I rebuilt the Boot.INI . My computer is ok now Thanks for all the trouble man.

Josh

 

[Broni]

You're welcome