Windows Does Not Start Normally With Bootgui=1 in the Msdos.sys

ID: Q136416


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows 98


SYMPTOMS

You may encounter one of the following symptoms with Windows:

  • After you make a change to your Windows environment your computer boots to a command prompt rather than into Windows.


  • Changes you make to entries in the Msdos.sys file may not seem to take effect.


  • When you perform a step-by-step boot and press either Y or N when you are prompted "Process your startup command file (AUTOEXEC.BAT)," you receive a message stating "Too many parameters" followed by the prompt "AUTOEXEC [Enter=Y,Esc=N]." No matter how you answer these prompts, Windows boots to a command prompt and does not prompt you to load the graphical user interface (GUI).


  • When you start your computer, it boots to the Windows boot menu instead of booting into Windows, although the Msdos.sys file contains "bootmenu=0."



CAUSE

There is a Winboot.ini file in the root folder of the boot drive that contains "BootGUI=0" in the [Options] section.

If the Winboot.ini file exists, it is processed instead of the Msdos.sys file. The Winboot.ini file is created by Windows Setup to ensure restartability or to display a warning when there is an operation that needs to be manually restarted. When the operation is complete, the Winboot.ini file is normally deleted, and the Io.sys configuration settings are read from Msdos.sys.

NOTE: The Winboot.ini file is a hidden file.


RESOLUTION

If your computer boots to a command prompt only and no error messages are displayed, you can safely delete the Winboot.ini file and restart your computer.

To delete the Winboot.ini file, follow these steps:

  1. At an MS-DOS prompt, type the following command in the root directory
    deltree <drive>:\winboot.ini
    where <drive> is the drive where the Winboot.ini file is located.


  2. Answer yes (y) when prompted to "Delete file 'winboot.ini'?"


  3. Restart your computer.


Additional query words: bootgui=1

Keywords : kbenv win95 winboot win98
Version : WINDOWS:95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: May 26, 1999
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