Thread: How to manually edit the Boot.ini file in a Windows Server 2003 environment

SUMMARY

Here explained that how you can modify the Boot.ini file in a Windows Server 2003.The information in the Boot.ini file used by Ntldr file to show the bootstrap loader screen from your operating system which you choose.
This screen depends on the data in Boot.ini file. If entry can not be selected before counter get to 0(zero),Ntldr run the operating system that is present in Boot.ini file. Windows Server 2003 Setup stores Boot.ini file in the root of the system partition. Change your folder options so that you can view hidden files and take backup of Boot.ini file before you edit it.

Modify Folder Options

1. Right-click on Start and click Explore.
2. On Tools menu, click Folder Options, and click View.
3. Under Advanced Settings, click Show hidden files and folders, click to clear the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) check box, click Yes, and click OK.
4. Find the system partition, Find and right-click the Boot.ini file, and click Properties.
5. Click to clear the Read-only check box, and click OK.

Save a Backup Copy of the Boot.ini File

1. Right-click on Start, and click Explore.
2. Find the system partition, find and right-click the Boot.ini file, and click Copy.
3. Find and click the folder where you desire to copy Boot.ini file, and click Paste on Edit menu.

This is sample of default Boot.ini file from Windows Server 2003-based PC:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows .NET Standard Server" /fastdetect
This is sample of Boot.ini file after the addition of other partition that executes Microsoft Windows XP Professional.
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows .NET Standard Server" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional"

1. Click Start,go to Programs, go to Accessories, and click Notepad.
2. On File menu, click Open.
3. In the Look in box, click system partition, in the Files of type box, click All Files, find and click the Boot.ini file, and then click Open.
4. Make modifications that you want in Boot.ini file, and click Save on File menu.

Remove an Operating System from the Menu

Following steps are used to remove an operating system from menu:
1. In Notepad, choose line that has information about the operating system which you want to remove, and click Delete on Edit menu. For example, select this line: multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
2. On File menu, click Save.

These steps are given to change Operating System menu order:

1. In Notepad, choose line which you desire to move, tick Copy on Edit menu, and push DELETE.
2. Click where you would like to add the line, and tick Paste on Edit menu.
3. Step 1 and step 2 do again for every line that you desire to move, and then tick Save on File menu.

Modify the Default Operating System

The default operating system is started if no choice is made before the time-out. (The time-out is the number of seconds in which you choose an operating system from menu before the default operating system is started.)

Default operating system modified by using following steps:
1. In Notepad, change the following line to modify the default operating system:
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
For example, to change the default operating system from Windows Server 2003 to Windows XP Professional, modify this line
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
to this line:
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOW S
2. On File menu, click Save.

Modify the Time-out

Time-out value can be modified by using these steps:
1. In Notepad, change the following line to change the time-out (where the value is 20 seconds):
timeout=20
2. On File menu, click Save.