Editing BOOT.INI without using GUI

[Ascii2]

I want to set the timeout value that exists in boot.ini of Windows 2000 System Drives to 2.

I want to modify the BOOT.INI timeout value without using the Windows Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the purpose (as necessary during an unattended Windows install).

I am aware of the existence of the bootcfg.exe utility; however, the bootcfg.exe utility does not work on Windows 2000. Attempting to use bootcfg.exe on a Windows 2000 family operating system yields the following error:

ERROR: The target system must be running Windows XP or above.

If a patched utility with the OS check removed exists, please make it known.

How can the BOOT.INI file be modified without using a GUI?

Edited October 10, 2008 by Ascii2

[IcemanND]

It's a text file, your just have to turn of the read-only attribute. and any method to edit a text file. CMD file vb script, or replace it with your own file (not 100% reliable).

[Ascii2]

It's a text file, your just have to turn of the read-only attribute. and any method to edit a text file. CMD file vb script, or replace it with your own file (not 100% reliable).

Other than replacing a file completely (which is not desireable for boot.ini), I am uncertain about methods to edit a text file other than via a GUI.

How can it be done via CMD file?

[OuTmAn]

using NirCmd

ATTRIB -R -S -H C:\boot.ini
NIRCMDC inisetval "C:\boot.ini" "boot loader" "timeout" "2"

cheers

[Ascii2]

Thank you OuTmAn. Your suggestion performed as expected; boot.ini was correctly modified.

I have added NirCMD to my utilities set.

[jaclaz]

It's a text file, your just have to turn of the read-only attribute. and any method to edit a text file. CMD file vb script, or replace it with your own file (not 100% reliable).

Other than replacing a file completely (which is not desireable for boot.ini), I am uncertain about methods to edit a text file other than via a GUI.

How can it be done via CMD file?

Here:

http://www.msfn.org/board/Hand-BOOTINI-t66101.html

http://www.msfn.org/board/Hand-BOOTINI-t66101.html&st=15

NIRCMD is great, but remember:

Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.

"

jaclaz

[Ascii2]

It's a text file, your just have to turn of the read-only attribute. and any method to edit a text file. CMD file vb script, or replace it with your own file (not 100% reliable).

Other than replacing a file completely (which is not desireable for boot.ini), I am uncertain about methods to edit a text file other than via a GUI.

How can it be done via CMD file?

Here:

http://www.msfn.org/board/Hand-BOOTINI-t66101.html

http://www.msfn.org/board/Hand-BOOTINI-t66101.html&st=15

NIRCMD is great, but remember:

Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.

"

jaclaz

Thanks, jaclaz.

I note the posts in the referenced threads.

[OuTmAn]

jaclaz's method (in his 2nd link), using "TYPE | FIND /V", is simple and interesting

I could use this method for some of my personal stuff!

(but my method using NirCmd is good too )