Windows XP Home Edition WILL NOT BOOT? (Need to Access Boot.ini)

**ryannathans** · #1 9th Jul 2009, 06:55

hey i have my xp home edition SP3 here and i wanted to reformat it and it wouldnt boot from disk so i edited boot.ini and forgot to change the critical bit and now it wont boot the OS... If i hold down F8 while booting i can access the menu with Safe Mode and stuff but none of them work as it cant boot... i know the problem and what i need to edit to fix it but how can i open Boot.ini and edit it the way it is?

thanks
ryan

**Hybr!d** · #2 9th Jul 2009, 07:17

Boot of your CD, select the first repair option and then try the bootcfg command at the console.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/r_c_cmds.htm#Bootcfg

**ryannathans** · #3 9th Jul 2009, 07:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hybr!d

Boot of your CD, select the first repair option and then try the bootcfg command at the console.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/r_c_cmds.htm#Bootcfg

I cannot boot from any disk or usb =/ thats what i was trying to fix in the first place before this happened...

**Hybr!d** · #4 9th Jul 2009, 07:28

Well, set the CD as 1st boot or use the F keys to select a boot device on power on.

If that fails you have a bad drive or CD...

**ryannathans** · #5 9th Jul 2009, 08:12

how do i get to the 'change boot order' page?

**Hybr!d** · #6 9th Jul 2009, 08:39

When you turn on your PC it will say press x key to enter BIOS, the settings are in there.

http://www.computer-juice.com/forums...ess-bios-3997/

**ryannathans** · #7 9th Jul 2009, 08:45

none of those buttons work... *******

**philthomas** · #8 10th Jul 2009, 15:58

See if this helps ...... you need to keep tapping the key, soon after you see the first bios screen.

**ryannathans** · #9 10th Jul 2009, 20:08

1:

2:

when it boots i see an ACER screen and it says push f2 to begin setup so i pushed that and it shows a quick screen with some BIOS info i think (see image) and then asks for a password on the next screen (see next image)... i dont know the password...

**philthomas** · #10 11th Jul 2009, 05:00

I'm assuming this is an Acer Laptop (not Desktop) yeah ?

Unfortunately the security with Laptop bios's is much gretaer than with Desktops, as most modern Laptops cannot be reset, byy jumpers or removing the cmos battery.

Your best bet is to phone Acer support and ask them for help ...... you will probably be asked for proof of ownership and they will advise. They may require you to return it to them, for resetting at a fee.