Boot.ini is a hidden file of Windows that it uses to determine the operating systems to be displayed while starting the system. It helps system identifying on which folder, partition and hard drive, Windows is located. The file might get damaged or deleted due to several reasons. In such cases, you get errors and the system fails to start, whereby making your data inaccessible. You can replace or repair the file using Recovery Console options. But if you fail to do so, you will need to recover the lost data from backup or using effective data recovery software.

Consider an instance, you try to start a Windows XP based computer system and it fails to boot giving the below error message:

"Invalid Boot.ini"

Or

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: 

WindowsSystem32Hal.dll"

You might receive the above error message particularly after you upgrade your system to Windows XP.

Cause

The root cause of such errors to occur is that Boot.ini file is corrupted, missing or contains invalid entries.

Solution

Windows XP Recovery Console includes a command called bootcfg that allows you to reconstruct or edit the boot.ini fil. To use the bootcfg.exe tool through Recovery Console, you need to follow these steps:

Insert the Windows XP installation disc and boot your system from it Press any key when prompted for booting from CD Press 'R' to start Recovery Console when 'Welcome to Setup' message appears Select the Windows installation you desire to repair Specify the administrator password, if any Type bootcfg /list at the command prompt to enlist the entries of boot.ini file Run bootcfg/rebuild command Type 'Y' in response to 'Add installation to boot list?' At next prompt, you need to mention the operating system name as the 'Load Identifier' Type /fastdetect , when prompted to 'Enter OS Load options' Type Exit to exit from Recovery Console

If you still cannot access your data, scan the hard disk using a hard drive recovery utility to recover the lost data. Data Recovery Software are special tools to extract lost files, folders and partitions from a seemingly inaccessible drive. These tools also serve as suitable Partition Recovery tools.

Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery is completely reliable and advanced partition recovery utility for Windows 7 RC1, Vista, XP, 2003 and 2000 based systems. It is a comprehensiveData Recovery services with graphically rich user interface and options. The tool provides safe data recovery from FAT32, VFAT, NTFS and NTFS5 based drives.