Error Accessing Boot Sector File \\BOOTSS

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

If your computer is configured to dual boot into Windows NT version 4.0 and another operating system (such as MS-DOS or Windows 95), you may receive the following error message when you attempt to boot into the non-Windows NT operating system:

   I/O error accessing boot sector file
   Multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\\BOOTSS

CAUSE

When your computer is configured to dual boot into Windows NT version 4.0 and another operating system, it uses a hidden file called Bootsect.dos to boot into the non-Windows NT operating system. If the Bootsect.dos file becomes corrupted, or is missing from the root of drive C, you will receive this error.

Note that the Ntldr file displays the erroneous file name Bootss instead of the correct file name of Bootsect.dos.

RESOLUTION

Search for the hidden Bootsect.dos file in the root of drive C. If it is missing, it can be re-created or restored from a recent backup. If it exists, it is probably corrupted. You should delete the file and then re- create it. To do this, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q101789
   TITLE     : Reconstructing Bootsect.dos

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.