boot.ini question

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benster - 01 Jul 2006 13:53 GMT

I have this boot.ini config:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=signature(c59cc59c)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
signature(c59cc59c)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

I wonder what means signature(c59cc59c), and if I can delete that part.

Currently I am experiencing a delay when Windows is booting up.

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Dave Patrick - 01 Jul 2006 17:01 GMT

Generally I wouldn't expect to see signature syntax in boot.ini unless the
hardware was really old.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=227704

Signature

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

|I have this boot.ini config:
|
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
|
| Currently I am experiencing a delay when Windows is booting up.

Reply to this Message

cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user) - 02 Jul 2006 23:33 GMT

On Sat, 1 Jul 2006 05:53:02 -0700, benster

>I have this boot.ini config:

>[boot loader]
>timeout=30
>default=signature(c59cc59c)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
>[operating systems]
>signature(c59cc59c)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

>I wonder what means signature(c59cc59c), and if I can delete that part.

No! i.e.
- Yes it's significant, prolly an identifier
- No, you shouldn't hack it!!

OSs booted from Boot.ini have one of two possible sets of syntax:

1) Boot sector image syntax

This is how DOS, Win9x and Recovery Console are loaded from Boot.ini;
the entry in [operating systems] defines a filespec (or if just C:\,
the default file name is BOOTSECT.DOS there) that is loaded and
executed as a 512-byte image of a partition boot sector.

2) NT load syntax

This is more complex, and directs NTLDR to load the NT-family OS.
AFAICR there are three different possible syntaxes:
- multi()
- scsi()
- signature()

Usually one sees the multi() syntax; scsi() is used on SCSI, I guess.
The signature() syntax is rarer and may be used to overcome some HD
addressing issues, such as missing INT13 support or something (it's
been ages since I read this up, sorry...)

The main take-home here is that entries within the [operating systems]
section of Boot.ini atre VERY brittle, and you should be extremely
careful here!! You can't even ;comment out things in this section, as
NTLDR will parse any such items as valid OSs (and run as garbage)

There's an MS /kb article that describes the syntax of NT OS load
directives within the [operating system] section.

>-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

Tip Of The Day:
To disable the 'Tip of the Day' feature...

>-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

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Dave Patrick - 03 Jul 2006 00:57 GMT

Not exactly.

MULTI() syntax indicates to Windows that it should rely on the mobo or
controller BIOS to load system files for the driver.

SCSI() notation indicates that Windows will load a boot device driver and
use that driver to access the boot partition (always named ntbootdd.sys)

Signature() syntax is used when the controller hosting the boot partition on
which Windows is installed, does not support INT-13 EXTENSIONS, or has the
INT-13 Extensions option disabled, and the partition on which you installed
Windows is either larger than ~7.8 gigabytes (GB) in size, or the ending
cylinder number for that partition is higher than 1024 and in some cases a
SCSI controller whose BIOS is disabled.

Signature

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

<snip>

| Usually one sees the multi() syntax; scsi() is used on SCSI, I guess.
| The signature() syntax is rarer and may be used to overcome some HD
| addressing issues, such as missing INT13 support or something (it's
| been ages since I read this up, sorry...)

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maestro2912 - 30 Jan 2007 17:24 GMT

I've got question, but don't know how to add new topic.

I have dual boot. 2 x SATA one HDD, OS is allways on the first partition
1. XP Pro
2. Win98

I need to choose OS before starting by NTLDR as I have old BIOS.
This edit of boot.ini is not correct, but I don't what is wrong there.

[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows 98SE"

Error report is "wrong channel" by choise of Win98

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