This happened to me before, so I've got it again...

I tried to install Windows XP, and that failed. So, once again it asks me at bootup if I want Windows XP or Windows 98.

I'm trying to get back to an automatic bootup to Windows 98.

I remember that the solution was to do something with my Boot.ini file in the root of C:, but I can't remember. I tried to find my years-ago post -- but no luck.

Here is my Boot.ini on C:Windows 98 at present:

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=5
Default=C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT
[Operating Systems]
C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows XP Setup"
C:\="Microsoft Windows"

Thanks in advance...

Bob

You might get away with editing the boot.ini but you might send the whole thing South.

The right way is to clean install 98.

You MIGHT get away with:

boot on 98 floppy
fdisk /mbr
sys c:

If the aborted XP install converted the first drive to NTFS, this won't work.

If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

M2

The change to boot.ini is:

default=C:\

to replace the existing line.

You'll have to alter the attributes of the boot.ini file to be able to save it back to disk after editing. To do this enter

attrib -h -s boot.ini

before editig while at the C:\ prompt, then

attrib +h +s boot.ini

after editing & saving.

The C drive can't have been converted to NTFS because it's where the W98 boot files have to be.

Do you have at least 2 partitions? Were you trying to create a dual boot or were you attempting an upgrade?

Boot your PC with the Win98 boot floppy. At the DOS prompt A:\ type SYS C: and press ENTER. This should write the Win98 boot info to your C: partition.

Make a backup of the old BOOT.INI file 1st...just in case

Mechanix2Go

Things got really scary there for awhile. I'v never seen my system so locked-up in 9 years.

I deleted the Boot.ini that I had. Then I did a clean install of Windows98 SE.

It worked out just fine -- "Just like downtown!"

Thanks for your input, Rambler and Jam.

Bob

I never dealt with that problem, but assuming there was no NTFS conversion, couldn't he just have deleted the boot.ini file? 98 doesn't need it. Then if necessary do the fdisk/mbr and sys c: that M2 mentioned.

Probably - after attempting to install Win2k over 98, all it took was a 'sys c:' to revert (boot.ini is still there I think, doesn't matter)

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The boot.ini being there probably won't matter.

But if the MBR tosses the ball to NTDETECT, it may lose it's way.

If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

M2

That could be - I remember rebuilding the mbr at least once (just in case), over the course of a few installation attempts last year.

Maybe DAVE recalls that kid (a while back) who claimed he'd fixed some sort of 9x boot problem by adding boot.ini to the floppy - we couldn't persuade him otherwise. To Win9x etc, boot.ini is just another file

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YER

boot.ini on a floppy.

It's a concept that merits more study.

Now, if I could just get a partition table onto a floppy...

If at first you don't succeed, you're about average.

M2

It sounds kinda familiar. But anything more than a week or two ago has to make a pretty big impression for me to remember it. Ex wives will do that to you.

... I think it was longer ago than that

ex-wives (as in 'more than one')?

¡Ay, caramba!

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Well, two. I should probably quit the game while I've still got a little sanity left.