Windows XP Recovery

 

Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem.
Could not read from selected boot disk.
Check boot path and disk hardware.

Symptom

Boot.ini file is corrupt or missing.

• After BIOS POST, you'll see a message that begins "Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem," "Could not read from selected boot disk," or "Check boot path and disk hardware."
  

• Cause

• The Boot.ini file has been deleted, is corrupted, or no longer references the boot volume because the addition of a partition has changed the Advanced RISC Computing (ARC) name of the volume.

• Resolution

Boot.ini is the very first files that come into play when a Windows XP system is started up. It is a text file that is kept in the system root, so usually C:\boot.ini. Because it is an essential system file, the attributes are set to hidden, system, read-only to protect it.

Boot.ini contains the location of the Windows XP operating system on the computer.

Use Windows XP Recovery Console to fix by command : bootcfg /rebuild.

• This command has the Recovery Console scan each volume looking for Windows installations. When it discovers an installation, it asks you whether it should add it to Boot.ini as a boot option and what name it should display for the installation in the boot menu.

Change BIOS settings to first boot from CD\DVD-ROM drive and boot from Windows XP CD. Presing 'R' key, you would see screen as below,

Select the drive number of inatlled Windows XP

Enter administrator password

First, use the attrib command to clear the system, hidden, and read-only attributes on the boot.ini file.

 

Then type bootcfg / rebuild

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