Boot.ini File Still Contains an Entry for Windows NT 4.0 After New Installation of Windows XP (304829)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
This article was previously published under Q304829

SYMPTOMS

After you perform a new installation of Windows XP (not an upgrade), and you install Windows XP on a disk drive that contains Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0, the Boot.ini file still contains a Windows NT version 4.0 entry.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur because the Boot.ini file is loaded into memory during text-mode setup to keep the file intact. After the System partition is formatted, the Boot.ini file is restored on the System partition to retain the boot paths to any boot partitions other than the System partition.

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, edit the Boot.ini file to remove the Windows NT version 4.0 entry. For information about how to edit the Boot.ini file in Windows XP, refer to the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

289022 How to Edit the Boot.ini File in Windows XP

On future installations, you can prevent this behavior by deleting and then recreating the System partition before the formatting process. However, if you do delete and then recreate the System partition, existing operating systems cannot boot.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/30/2001
Keywords:kbenv kbprb kbsetup KB304829
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