Today my Dell laptop would not start. When the laptop boots up I see the Dell start up screen and then a very quick Invaild BOOT. ini. file Booting from C:\windows\ Ntdetect failed before the computer reboots. This process continues forever. I have tried to do a restore but computer does the above, same with safe mode. I just moved and can not find my XP cd. I was thinking that would fix my problem. If that is the problem where can I download a boot.ini file to a cd since i dont have a floppy drive or a boot disk for a cd. I would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you in advance.

The easiest resolution is to find the XP CD or find a floppy drive.

Bootdisk.com apparently has a boot CD for a small fee although i've never tried it:

Custom XP Fresh Install Bootable CD

http://www.bootdisk.com/popfiles.htm

The boot.ini file

http://windows.about.com/od/performa...l/aa032099.htm

The floppy procedure:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310994


If you cannot boot into Windows I would suggest first trying the Recovery Console:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;EN-US;307654

To try to fix the boot:

Assuming that your XP is on C: then:

Type:

FIXMBR C:

then enter. After that completes type:

FIXBOOT C:

then enter. After that completes type:

BOOTCFG /rebuild

then enter. After that completes type:

EXIT

then reboot.

If in the process you are asked to run chkdsk say YES.

Also after the BOOTCFG /rebuild you will be prompted to:

C:\Windows
1. Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All):
2. Enter Load Identifier: (Custom description for an operating system loading from the Boot menu)
3. Enter Operating System Load Options: (that is: /fastdetect)

Reply:
1. Yes
2. XP
3. /fastdetect

anyways, i was on my other computer... something was wrong with the internet so i decided to restart it. every time it turns on now it just starts up and goes to that black screen where typing should go, and it says ntdetect failed then restarts and restarts forever.

now it is just shut off

Just to clarify did you start this thread as mnkyspnk ?

The first try here is to boot your XP CD into the Recovery Console and try FIXBOOT.