INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE

One morning when I powered up my computer, I received the lovely
INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE message on my computer, which runs Windows
2000 Professional SP4. I had not done any hardware or software
upgrades. I have tried all kinds of tools, and I have always been
able to see my drives (I have two SCSI drives), so I am pretty sure it
isn't a hardware problem. I finally broke down and installed another
copy of the same OS (not any service packs though), on the same drive
but in a different folder, and I can boot successfully from that
installation now. I am however still getting the
INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE when I try to boot to the original
installation. In the BOOT.INI file, the only difference in that the
old installation is showing WINNT and the new TEMPWIN. The
INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE message shows up about half way through the
colorfull Windows screen if that helps anything. I have tried to boot
in both Safe Mode and Last Known Good Configuration with the same
outcome. Does anyone know what I can try next? Are there files I can
copy from the new installation to the old, or are there other steps I
can try. My guess is that one of the files has became corrupt, but I
have no idea which one. I did try booting with loging turned on, but
if I've done my research correctly, the ntbtlog.txt file isn't created
until later.

Thanks for any advice,

Tor

there are two modules able to produce this error message NTLOADER and
NTKERNEL, next time you get this message, look for source module
identification somewhere on this blue screen of death. It is important
information to know

The cause of this error message is, that actual disk driver is unable to
access critical files under WINNT folder specified by operating system
descriptor inside boot.ini, usually kernel module itself, system registry or
runtime disk driver file (it can produce different message saying that
specific file is corrupted or missing, it depends on situation). Possible
causes on previously running machine:
* reset of BIOS setting - sometimes happen when CMOS battery is weak or on
some faults (peaks or leaks) of computer electrical power. Especially if you
are using SATA or SCSI disks, it is possible your BIOSes (both motherboard
and disk controller) should be set accordingly to disk driver settings. To
repair this, you need either to set BIOS back to functional settings or
replace manually disk driver file or settings in unfunctional OS instance
(not recommended for unexperienced users!)
* previous change made to disk or partions system. - Adding or removing of
disk, disk controller, adding or deleting of partition on system disk. All
this can change physical order of disks and partitions and can make
operating system descriptor in boot.ini to point to inexistant location. It
is probably not your case, as your descriptors seems to be the same. To
repair this, "just" change OS descritptor in bott.ini to point to correct
disk and partition.
* corrupted or missing file or filesystem - make deep check of filesystem
using other OS instance, eventually apply the same SP and critical system
updates to your temporary instance and try to replace the same files in
SYSTEM32 and system32/drivers folders.

ALWAYS backup original files before making any changes!


"tk72" <t_karlsson72.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> píse v diskusním príspevku
news:1170305211.791404.309970@j27g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...
> One morning when I powered up my computer, I received the lovely
> INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE message on my computer, which runs Windows
> 2000 Professional SP4. I had not done any hardware or software
> upgrades. I have tried all kinds of tools, and I have always been
> able to see my drives (I have two SCSI drives), so I am pretty sure it
> isn't a hardware problem. I finally broke down and installed another
> copy of the same OS (not any service packs though), on the same drive
> but in a different folder, and I can boot successfully from that
> installation now. I am however still getting the
> INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE when I try to boot to the original
> installation. In the BOOT.INI file, the only difference in that the
> old installation is showing WINNT and the new TEMPWIN. The
> INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE message shows up about half way through the
> colorfull Windows screen if that helps anything. I have tried to boot
> in both Safe Mode and Last Known Good Configuration with the same
> outcome. Does anyone know what I can try next? Are there files I can
> copy from the new installation to the old, or are there other steps I
> can try. My guess is that one of the files has became corrupt, but I
> have no idea which one. I did try booting with loging turned on, but
> if I've done my research correctly, the ntbtlog.txt file isn't created
> until later.
>
> Thanks for any advice,
>
> Tor
>