Re: Win2K Multi-Boot "Invalid BOOT.INI..."

[Web Clark (RR)]

adrian15 wrote:

> > dd copied (hd0,2) to (hd0,3) to make system for the kids, then 
> > modified boot.ini in the copy to point to the right partition 
> > (details below).
> >
> > ---
> >
> > ---
> > When I boot (hd0,3) I get:
> >
> > Invalid BOOT.INI file
> > Booting from C:\winnt\
> > NTDETECT failed
>
>
> I suppose that NT Boot code has saved somewhere the position where 
> NTLDR is. I mean it does not search it.
>
> If I were you I will check this project to fix your hd0,3 wxp boot:
>
> http://ms-sys.sourceforge.net/
>
> (It is a tool for making something equivalent to fdisk /mbr or fixmbr 
> or fixboot but you can specify the partition where to act.
>
> adrian15
Thanks, I will. 

I also noticed that I have the partition numbers in the start of the 
mailnote off by one (count from 1 instead of 0), but they were done 
right in the system.

I also learned through the "starman"s site which has disassembly of boot 
records (well known I hope, don't have it handy) that NT and XP 
partition boot records have their offset in sectors from the start of 
the volume as a 4 byte number at offset 0x1c-0x1f.  This and the disk 
serial number are the only bytes different from my copied partition and 
clean install, which works.  If I understand, the S/N is not functional 
and will not present a problem (We shall see!).  I want to have an image 
I can copy around to restore though, not go through a reinstall 
everytime Windows gets messed up.

I will be trying to get them to run in "logical" partitions too so that 
I can have many Windows systems (one per child) bootable on the system, 
plus room for experimental Linux and FreeBSD (For me).

I will post a summary when I am done with what I learned and how I did 
it for other's reference.

--Ray