When you install Windows NT, the Boot.ini file has the Read Only, System, and Hidden attributes set. You can edit the timeout and default parameters in the Boot.ini file by using the System option on Control Panel, regardless of the value of these attributes.
If you want to edit the Boot.ini file by using a text editor, you need to make the file visible before you can open it, and you need to turn off Read Only to be able to make changes to it. You can change the attributes by using My Computer, Windows NT Explorer, or the command prompt.
1. On the View menu, click Options.
2. On the Options tab, select Show all files. Click OK.
3. Click the filename.
4. On the File menu, click Properties.
5. In the Attributes box of the General tab, clear the Read Only, System, and Hidden check boxes, and then click OK.
To change the attributes by using command prompt, enter:
attrib -s -h -r boot.ini
If you change the path to the Windows NT boot partition, make sure to edit both the default path and operating system path entries. If you change one but not the other, a new choice is added to the boot loader screen, with the default designator next to it.