During Windows startup, if you use the 'F8' function key but cannot access the 'Advanced Boot Options' menu, you will need to boot your system using the Windows XP installation CD and fix the problem by using the 'Recovery Console'. This tutorial shows the steps to follow.
Steps
Step 1. Remove any storage media from the boot device
For example, remove any non-bootable disks from the floppy disk drive or CD-ROM drive.
Step 2. Change your computer's BIOS boot sequence
Make sure the first device listed in the startup sequence is the CD-ROM drive.
Step 3. Insert the Windows XP or Windows 2000 installation disc into the optical drive of the computer, then restart the computer
Step 4. If prompted, select all the options shown on the screen so that the computer will boot from the CD-ROM
Step 5. When you see the welcome screen of the Windows installation procedure appear, press the 'R' key to launch the 'Recovery Console'
Step 6. If your computer has a boot menu (it can use more than one operating system), select the installation that the 'Recovery Console' should refer to
Step 7. When prompted, type in the computer administrator account password
If no password has been set for the administrator account, simply press the 'Enter' key.
Step 8. Type the following two commands:
'COPY X: / i386 / NTLDR C: \' and 'COPY X: / i386 / NTDETECT. COM C: \' (without quotes), where 'X' is the drive letter of the CD-ROM drive and 'C' corresponds to the drive letter where the installation to be restored resides.
Step 9. To verify the configuration of the 'boot.ini' file use the following command:
'type c: / Boot.ini' (without quotes). If the following message "Cannot find the specified file" appears, your computer's 'boot.ini' file may have been corrupted or deleted. You can restore this system file by creating it new and saving it to a storage media and then copying it to the system by following the steps seen in point 8: 'COPY X: / Boot.ini C: \' (without quotes), where 'X' corresponds to the drive letter of the CD-ROM drive and 'C' corresponds to the drive letter where the installation to be restored resides. To recreate the 'boot.ini' file refer to this Microsoft tutorial.
