Unusual boot problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tim Holland
  • Start date Start date
T

Tim Holland

I have two copies of W2K installed, one on drive C:, the other on G:.

When I boot up, I get two choices of the same system:
Windows 2000 (default)
Windows 2000 (default)

It is the second which is highlighted. But whichever I choose, the OS
selected as the default in Startup & Recovery is the one which loads.

The two versions of boot.ini are:

Version 1:

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=15
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="1 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="2 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect

Version 2:

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=15
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="2 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="1 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect

Previously, I used to get a real choice between the two different
systems. How can I get my system back the way it was?

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Tim
 
The one in the root of the system partition is the only one that counts.
What you posted indicates an operating system on disk0 (first physical disk)
first partition and disk1(second physical disk) third partition,

Also try creating a boot disk. For the floppy to successfully boot Windows
2000 the disk must contain the "NT" boot sector. Format a diskette (on a
Windows 2000 (or newer) machine, not a DOS/Win9x, so the NT boot sector gets
written to the floppy), and copy Windows 2000 (or newer) versions of ntldr,
ntdetect.com, and boot.ini to it. Edit the boot.ini to give it a correct ARC
path for the machine you wish to boot. Below is an example of boot.ini. The
default is to start the operating system located on the first partition of
the primary or first drive (drive0). Then drive0 partition 2 and so on.

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows 2000 0,1"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows 2000 0,2"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINNT="Windows 2000 0,3"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINNT="Windows 2000 0,4"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows 2000 1,1"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows 2000 1,2"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="Windows 2000 1,3"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(4)\WINNT="Windows 2000 1,4"

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
Thank you for your reply, but I'm not sure that it helps. Before my
problem arose, on booting up, I was given a choice of operating
systems. True, the default was on Drive C, but I could simply
highlight the other O/S and hit return, to load the second. I have no
idea of what the boot.ini I had then looked like.

The one I have now establishes a default, but will load *only* that
default (although I can change which the default actually is in
Startup & Recovery in the control panel).

All this came about because I was trying to back up Drive C to an
external drive (using Norton Ghost installed under my second W2K O/S).
My machine got trapped in semi-install. Pegasus (MVP) kindly got me
out of that but he hasn't been able to solve this current problem.

By the way, instead of having Drives C & D on my first physical disk,
I now have:
C:
-VPSGHBOOT- (J:) 8MB
39.55 MB unallocated
D:

I was also getting error messages "Cidaemon.exe - Application Error",
but these seem to have stopped.

I keep wondering whether my boot problem is being caused by these new
drives. I have put out questions in the Norton support newsgroups,
asking whether I can uninstall Ghost from Drive G, but no one has
replied.

Any suggestions you can make to help me get my system back the way it
was will be gratefully received.

Tim



The one in the root of the system partition is the only one that counts.
What you posted indicates an operating system on disk0 (first physical disk)
first partition and disk1(second physical disk) third partition,

Also try creating a boot disk. For the floppy to successfully boot Windows
2000 the disk must contain the "NT" boot sector. Format a diskette (on a
Windows 2000 (or newer) machine, not a DOS/Win9x, so the NT boot sector gets
written to the floppy), and copy Windows 2000 (or newer) versions of ntldr,
ntdetect.com, and boot.ini to it. Edit the boot.ini to give it a correct ARC
path for the machine you wish to boot. Below is an example of boot.ini. The
default is to start the operating system located on the first partition of
the primary or first drive (drive0). Then drive0 partition 2 and so on.

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows 2000 0,1"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows 2000 0,2"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINNT="Windows 2000 0,3"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINNT="Windows 2000 0,4"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows 2000 1,1"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows 2000 1,2"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="Windows 2000 1,3"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(4)\WINNT="Windows 2000 1,4"

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Tim Holland said:
I have two copies of W2K installed, one on drive C:, the other on G:.
Click to expand...
When I boot up, I get two choices of the same system:
Windows 2000 (default)
Windows 2000 (default)
Click to expand...
It is the second which is highlighted. But whichever I choose, the OS
selected as the default in Startup & Recovery is the one which loads.
Click to expand...
The two versions of boot.ini are:
Click to expand...
Version 1:
Click to expand...
[Boot Loader]
Timeout=15
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="1 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="2 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
Click to expand...
Version 2:
Click to expand...
[Boot Loader]
Timeout=15
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="2 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="1 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
Click to expand...
Previously, I used to get a real choice between the two different
systems. How can I get my system back the way it was?
Click to expand...
Any suggestions gratefully received.
Click to expand...
Tim
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Yes, I'm guessing the system partition and or the physical disk situation
may have changed but you'll have to verify this.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
How do I verify it?

Tim


Yes, I'm guessing the system partition and or the physical disk situation
may have changed but you'll have to verify this.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Tim Holland said:
Thank you for your reply, but I'm not sure that it helps. Before my
problem arose, on booting up, I was given a choice of operating
systems. True, the default was on Drive C, but I could simply
highlight the other O/S and hit return, to load the second. I have no
idea of what the boot.ini I had then looked like.
Click to expand...
The one I have now establishes a default, but will load *only* that
default (although I can change which the default actually is in
Startup & Recovery in the control panel).
Click to expand...
All this came about because I was trying to back up Drive C to an
external drive (using Norton Ghost installed under my second W2K O/S).
My machine got trapped in semi-install. Pegasus (MVP) kindly got me
out of that but he hasn't been able to solve this current problem.
Click to expand...
By the way, instead of having Drives C & D on my first physical disk,
I now have:
C:
-VPSGHBOOT- (J:) 8MB
39.55 MB unallocated
D:
Click to expand...
I was also getting error messages "Cidaemon.exe - Application Error",
but these seem to have stopped.
Click to expand...
I keep wondering whether my boot problem is being caused by these new
drives. I have put out questions in the Norton support newsgroups,
asking whether I can uninstall Ghost from Drive G, but no one has
replied.
Click to expand...
Any suggestions you can make to help me get my system back the way it
was will be gratefully received.
Click to expand...
Tim
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Disk Management snap-in;

Start|Run|diskmgmt.msc

Have you added/ removed/ reconfigured any disks?

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
Dave said:
Disk Management snap-in;

Start|Run|diskmgmt.msc

Have you added/ removed/ reconfigured any disks?
Click to expand...

Not since this problem has arisen.

The disks now are as I said above:
First physical disk has the following partitions:
C:
-VPSGHBOOT- (J:) 8MB
39.55 MB unallocated
D:

Before, it used to be:
C:
D:

There has been no change with the second physical disk.
This is still: E:, F:, G:.

Thank you for your time and advice.

Tim


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Tim Holland said:
How do I verify it?

Tim
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Then we're missing important info here about what happened just prior to the
"problem" I'd try the boot floppy I posted.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
Then we're missing important info here about what happened just prior to the
"problem" I'd try the boot floppy I posted.
Click to expand...


The following boot.ini on a floppy was suggested by Pegasus. It simply
loads whichever is the default O/S. Why should I have thought it was
going to do anything else?


[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="1 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="2 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINNT="3 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINNT="4 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINNT="5 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="6 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect








--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Tim Holland said:
Not since this problem has arisen.
Click to expand...
The disks now are as I said above:
First physical disk has the following partitions:
C:
-VPSGHBOOT- (J:) 8MB
39.55 MB unallocated
D:
Click to expand...
Before, it used to be:
C:
D:
Click to expand...
There has been no change with the second physical disk.
This is still: E:, F:, G:.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your time and advice.
Click to expand...
Tim
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Because of the multiple entries listed under [Operating Systems]

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:

<snip>
Why should I have thought it was> going to do anything else?
Click to expand...

Ok. But the options appearing when I boot from the floppy are the same
that appear when I boot normally.

What now?

(Thank you for your time and patience, by the way.)

Tim
 
You're not booting from the floppy. Check the boot order in cmos setup.
Click to expand...

The first boot device is the floppy. Moreover, the timeout in the
floppy biit.ini is 3 seconds. That in C: is 15 seconds. When reboot
with the floppy in Drive A:, the timeout is 3 seconds.

It is definitely booting from the floppy, but the O/S options it gives
is the same non-choice of Windows 2000 (default).

Tim


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Tim Holland said:
Ok. But the options appearing when I boot from the floppy are the same
that appear when I boot normally.
Click to expand...
What now?
Click to expand...
(Thank you for your time and patience, by the way.)
Click to expand...
Tim
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Your boot floppy is somehow invalid and or corrupt. Try creating a new one
using the instructions I supplied earlier in this thread.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
Tim said:
I have two copies of W2K installed, one on drive C:, the other on G:.

When I boot up, I get two choices of the same system:
Windows 2000 (default)
Windows 2000 (default)

It is the second which is highlighted. But whichever I choose, the OS
selected as the default in Startup & Recovery is the one which loads.

The two versions of boot.ini are:

Version 1:

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=15
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="1 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="2 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect

Version 2:

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=15
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="2 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="1 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect

Previously, I used to get a real choice between the two different
systems. How can I get my system back the way it was?

Any suggestions gratefully received.
Click to expand...
What do you mean by'Startup & Recovery'? I've not seen that in the
Control Panel before. You have 2 HDDs. Of the 2 boot.ini files you have,
version 1 is the default for booting into disk 1, version 2 is default
for booting disk 2. You change default by changing the name of one of
these versions to boot.ini (there can only be one of them). But changing
default only changes which choice is highlighted in the boot menu.

In disk management you report an alternative letter for your C:\ drive
(J:\). This isn't normal. However you appear to be booting into this
drive. Is it marked 'system' under dm? Drive D:\ is an unformatted
unused partition. There is nothing on it. What do you see on your second
(G:\) drive under dm? Is there a boot/active partition marked. Are there
other logical drives shown?
 
Hey, you're right!

I copied your suggested boot.ini, and up came the 8 options.

I first selected the first, and it was the C drive W2K which loaded.

Then I restarted. There was a small panic when the screen went blank
instead of showing the 8 options. But I hot restarted, got the 8
options, and picked the 7th.

What should I do now?


Your boot floppy is somehow invalid and or corrupt. Try creating a new one
using the instructions I supplied earlier in this thread.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]http://www.microsoft.com/protect

Tim Holland said:
The first boot device is the floppy. Moreover, the timeout in the
floppy biit.ini is 3 seconds. That in C: is 15 seconds. When reboot
with the floppy in Drive A:, the timeout is 3 seconds.
Click to expand...
It is definitely booting from the floppy, but the O/S options it gives
is the same non-choice of Windows 2000 (default).
Click to expand...
Tim
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Which ones worked correctly? the first and seventh? If so boot.ini needs to
be;

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows 2000 0,1"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="Windows 2000 1,3"

This means your operating systems are installed on the first physical disk
partition one and on the second physical disk partition 3

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
Tim said:
I have two copies of W2K installed, one on drive C:, the other on G:.
Click to expand...
When I boot up, I get two choices of the same system:
Windows 2000 (default)
Windows 2000 (default)
Click to expand...
It is the second which is highlighted. But whichever I choose, the OS
selected as the default in Startup & Recovery is the one which loads.
Click to expand...
The two versions of boot.ini are:
Click to expand...
Version 1:
Click to expand...
[Boot Loader]
Timeout=15
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="1 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="2 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
Click to expand...
Version 2:
Click to expand...
[Boot Loader]
Timeout=15
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="2 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="1 Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
Click to expand...
Previously, I used to get a real choice between the two different
systems. How can I get my system back the way it was?
Click to expand...
Any suggestions gratefully received.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by'Startup & Recovery'? I've not seen that in the
Control Panel before.
Click to expand...

It's in System/Advanced.

In Startup & Recovery I can change the order of the boot options, so
the one on top becomes the default. If I select the second, the
boot.ini file gets rewritten, and my 2 defaults both load the W2K on
Drive G.


You have 2 HDDs. Of the 2 boot.ini files you have,
version 1 is the default for booting into disk 1, version 2 is default
for booting disk 2. You change default by changing the name of one of
these versions to boot.ini (there can only be one of them). But changing
default only changes which choice is highlighted in the boot menu.

In disk management you report an alternative letter for your C:\ drive
(J:\). This isn't normal. However you appear to be booting into this
drive.
Click to expand...

No. I don't think so. My 1st physical disk now has 4 partitions. D
appears to be as it was before. I think both J: and the unallocated
space have been put on part of what C: used to occupy.

Is it marked 'system' under dm?

No.

Drive D:\ is an unformatted
unused partition. There is nothing on it.
Click to expand...

Drive D: is as it was. The unallocated part is called just that.
There's no letter, either.

What do you see on your second
(G:\) drive under dm? Is there a boot/active partition marked. Are there
other logical drives shown?
Click to expand...

The 3 drives on my 2nd physical disk (E, F, G) appear to be as they
were before.

Tim
 
Tim said:
It's in System/Advanced.

In Startup & Recovery I can change the order of the boot options, so
the one on top becomes the default. If I select the second, the
boot.ini file gets rewritten, and my 2 defaults both load the W2K on
Drive G.
Click to expand...
It's just an alternative to renaming one of your boot version files to
boot.ini, as I mention below.
No. I don't think so. My 1st physical disk now has 4 partitions. D
appears to be as it was before. I think both J: and the unallocated
space have been put on part of what C: used to occupy.

Is it marked 'system' under dm?

No.
Click to expand...
This is a bit confusing. You are now saying the C: drive no longer
exists (ie it is not shown) and J: drive has replaced part of it
instead? What is the drive/s box top bar colour, ie is it indigo? If you
do not have any drive marked as 'System' under status then I'm surprised
you can boot up at all. What is shown under My Computer? Can you read D:
drive and any of the drives on the 2nd hdd. Was there data on it previously?
The 3 drives on my 2nd physical disk (E, F, G) appear to be as they
were before.
Click to expand...
Was Win2k loaded on the 2nd hdd? If so on what partition? (Explore for
Winnt).
 
Which ones worked correctly? the first and seventh? If so boot.ini needs to
be;

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows 2000 0,1"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="Windows 2000 1,3"
Click to expand...

Here's what happens.

On booting up, the choice I'm given is:
Windows 2000 (default)
Windows 2000 (default)


Whichever I choose, it's the W2K on Drive C which loads.

But, if I go into Control Panel/System/Advanced/Startup & Recovery,
and change the order of O/S's, boot.ini is rewritten as follows:

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINNT="Windows 2000 1,3"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows 2000 0,1"

If I reboot now, my two options are:
Windows 2000 (default)
Windows 2000 (default)

and both load the W2K on Drive G.

This is exactly what was happening before.

Tim
 
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