Fatal Error 256 Reading Boot Ini
Fix for Windows XP October 28, 2014 Get the fix to the Windows XP boot error "Fatal error reading boot.ini" and other NTLDR/boot.ini problems affecting Windows XP. Contents1 About "Fatal error reading boot.ini"1.1 Description and Symptoms1.1.1 Symptom 1: Fatal error reading boot.ini1.2 Causes of this Error1.2.1 Cause 1: Corrupted boot partition1.2.2 Cause 2: Compressed BOOT.INI file1.2.3 Cause 3: Fragmented BOOT.INI file2 Fix Fatal error reading boot.ini in Windows2.1 Fix #1: Rebuild BOOT.ini with Easy Recovery Essentials2.2 Fix #2: Re-create boot.ini2.3 Fix #3: Using chkdsk to repair filesystem errors3 More Information3.1 Linked Entries3.2 Support Links3.3 Applicable Systems About "Fatal error reading boot.ini" The following information on this error has been compiled by NeoSmart Technologies, based on the information gathered and reported by our global network of engineers, developers, and technicians or partner organizations. Description and Symptoms The error messages, alerts, warnings, and symptoms below are tied to this error. Symptom 1: Fatal error reading boot.ini When attempting to boot a Windows PC, the following fatal error is thrown by NTLDR, preventing the computer from starting up successfully: The full text: NTLDR: Fatal Error 1 reading BOOT.INI Both NTLDR and BOOT.INI are critical components of the Windows XP boot process. BOOT.INI stores the list of installed operating systems, and NTLDR uses it to generate the boot-time menu offering the selection of an OS. The number in the error message is not restricted to being "Error 1" but rather may be any of the following, amongst others: NTLDR: Fatal Error 256 reading BOOT.INI NTLDR: Fatal Error 512 reading BOOT.INI NTLDR: Fatal Error 4096 reading BOOT.INI NTLDR: Fatal Error 2952 reading BOOT.INI etc. Causes of this Error This error has been known to occur as a result of one or more of the following: Cause 1: Corrupted boot partition If the Windows boot partition (the partition marked as ‘active' on startup disk 0, typically also the same as the Windows partition for most computers not running in a dual-boot environment) has become corrupted, the "NTLDR: Fatal error reading boot.ini" error may present as NTLDR is unable to read the configuration settings within boot.ini in its attempt to boot your Windows XP installation. Corruption to the boot partition may be caused by unsafe writes to th
this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. Results 1 to 12 of 12 Thread: NTLDR: Fatal Error 256 Reading Boot.ini Tweet Thread Tools Show Printable Version Email this Page… Subscribe to this Thread… Search Thread Advanced Search Display Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode November 28th, 2007,12:21 PM #1 ginky4 View Profile View Forum Posts Virtual PC Specialist!!! https://neosmart.net/wiki/ntldr-fatal-error-boot/ Join Date Aug 2000 Location White Marsh, Maryland Posts 2,153 NTLDR: Fatal Error 256 Reading Boot.ini I am getting this error when trying to start this Windows XP Home machine. I can get into the Windows Recovery Console after booting from the cd. I have tried to copy d:\i386\ntldr c:\ and copy d:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\ and both files copied successfully but I am still getting this error when trying to start the http://discussions.virtualdr.com/showthread.php?226272-NTLDR-Fatal-Error-256-Reading-Boot-ini computer. What other commands from the recovery console should I try? Reply With Quote November 28th, 2007,01:40 PM #2 Steve R Jones View Profile View Forum Posts Visit Homepage Administrator Join Date Sep 1999 Location Dallas, Tx. Posts 21,200 What's the rest of the story behind the problem? "Common Sense is a flower that doesn't grow in everyone's garden." Reply With Quote November 28th, 2007,02:11 PM #3 ginky4 View Profile View Forum Posts Virtual PC Specialist!!! Join Date Aug 2000 Location White Marsh, Maryland Posts 2,153 I am not sure what you mean by that question. The only other thing that I tried to do was change the 2 sticks of 256 Kingston ram. My thinking was that 256 in the error message might have been a memory error. I changed the ram and I still get the same error. I am wondering if I should just do an over the top repair of windows. I was hoping there was a way to do it through the Recovery Console without having to do an over the top repair. Reply With Quote November 28th, 2007,02:28 PM #4 Train View Profile View Forum Posts Site Moderator Join Date Apr 2000 Location Sheboygan, WI Posts 52,509 Fixboot Writes a new partition boo
(Gateway running XP Home) I got nothing but a black screen and the error msg shown in the subject line above. Any suggestions as to how to deal with this http://www.pcreview.co.uk/threads/ntldr-fatal-error-256-reading-boot-ini.3735981/ would be appreciated. cwturley, Feb 7, 2009 #1 Advertisements Ronaldo Guest You have the following options to repair the boot sector files. 1) Use your Windows XP CD to repair the Boot sector through the http://www.xpheads.com/forums/microsoft-public-windowsxp-general/102355-ntldr-fatal-error-256-reading-boot-ini.html Recovery Console with the "FIXMBR" command, followed by the "FIXBOOT" command. See how to in the TechRepublic.com article 2) From another computer, go to the bootdisk website and download "xpquick.exe" to the hard drive, format a fatal error 3 1/2" diskete, and execute the "xpquick.exe" file to make a bootdisk and start your computer with the diskette in the drive, then copy the files from the diskette to the boot sector (to C:\) 3) If your computer doesn't have a diskette drive, you can burn the bootdisk files on a CD and start the computer with the CD in the drive http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm 10 things you can do when Windows XP won't fatal error 256 boot http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-6031733.html -------------------- "cwturley" <> escribió en el mensaje news:... > Yesterday when I tried to start my desktop (Gateway running XP Home) I got > nothing but a black screen and the error msg shown in the subject line > above. > Any suggestions as to how to deal with this would be appreciated. Ronaldo, Feb 8, 2009 #2 Advertisements Show Ignored Content Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question? It takes just 2 minutes to sign up (and it's free!). Just click the sign up button to choose a username and then you can ask your own questions on the forum. Sign Up Now! Similar Threads NTLDR: Fatal Error 32769 Guest, Mar 6, 2004, in forum: Windows XP Help Replies: 0 Views: 1,094 Guest Mar 6, 2004 NO WIN INI OR SYSTEM INI IN WINDOWS Guest, Jun 2, 2004, in forum: Windows XP Help Replies: 1 Views: 348 NoNoBadDog! Jun 2, 2004 NTLDR: FATAL ERROR 256 READING BOOT.INI Guest, Jan 22, 2006, in forum: Windows XP Help Replies: 12 Views: 2,326 Anna Jun 24, 2009 My NTLDR loads boot.ini slowly? , Mar 12, 2006, in forum: Windows XP Help Replies: 6 Views: 225 Trax Mar 13, 2006 win.ini & system.ini tab - msconfig.exe Guest, Nov 19, 2006, in forum: W
microsoft.public.windowsxp.general » "NTLDR fatal error 256 reading BOOT.INI" "NTLDR fatal error 256 reading BOOT.INI" microsoft.public.windowsxp.general LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes #1 (permalink) 02-07-2009, 05:58 PM cwturley Posts: n/a "NTLDR fatal error 256 reading BOOT.INI" When I turned my desktop (Gateway running XP Home) on yesterday I got the following msg: NTLDR fatal error 256 reading BOOT.INI I can't seem to get past it and I can't find that error msg when I search this site. Any help will be appreciated. Sponsored Links #2 (permalink) 02-07-2009, 07:33 PM Pegasus \(MVP\) Posts: n/a Re: "NTLDR fatal error 256 reading BOOT.INI" "cwturley"