[SOLVED] Win 2000 Pro Boot Failure

KrisInFla · 09-09-2009, 11:52 PM

Hello and thanks for reading.

I have a gaming PC with 2 hard drives. Drive C: has Win XP Pro SP3 installed and D: has Win 2000 Pro SP4.

The problem came after a malware attack on the Win 2000 install that has since been scrubbed clean, but the damage has been done. I'll know next time to boot into my well-protected XP drive to download anything.

On boot I get this error message;

STOP: c000026c {Unable to load device driver} \SystemRoot\ device driver could not be loaded. Error status was 0xc0000020

I would just wipe D: and reinstall 2000 but I learned the hard way that 2000 must be installed 1st. The first time I tried to install 2000 on the D: drive I did so with an existing XP install on C: and I was unable to boot to XP afterwards.

The Win 2000 install exists simply to give support for a Microsoft Sidewinder Gamepad so I can play my favorite baseball sim. If there is no easy fix for this problem I may just reformat the drive for extra storage, although I would really hate to lose one of my best games.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

**TheOutcaste** · 09-10-2009, 12:36 AM

Copy boot.ini, ntldr, and ntdetect.com from the root of the C drive to a temp folder.
Install Win2K
copy the 3 files back, overwriting the Win2K files.
XP and 2K should both work now

KrisInFla · 09-10-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOutcaste

Copy boot.ini, ntldr, and ntdetect.com from the root of the C drive to a temp folder.
Install Win2K
copy the 3 files back, overwriting the Win2K files.
XP and 2K should both work now

Thank you for your reply. I just arrived home and will try the fix soon. I have made copies of the 3 files and placed in a temp folder.

Before I begin I wanted to make sure I know the correct location of these files in Win 2K. Will all 3 be in the WINNT folder?

Thank you again for your help. It is truly appreciated.

**TheOutcaste** · 09-10-2009, 12:40 PM

Same location as XP, in the Root of the C: drive. Both OS are booting from the C: drive.

Installing Win2K overwrites the XP versions which is why XP fails to boot after installing Win2K

KrisInFla · 09-10-2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOutcaste

Same location as XP, in the Root of the C: drive. Both OS are booting from the C: drive.

Installing Win2K overwrites the XP versions which is why XP fails to boot after installing Win2K

Thanks for clarifying that. I will begin the 2K reinstall right away. If there are any more questions I will ask here. If all goes smoothly I will label this thread solved.

Cheers!

KrisInFla · 09-10-2009, 05:40 PM

Success! Many thanks to you for your time and assistance.

09-09-2009, 11:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
KrisInFla Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 18 OS: Vista Ult X64, Win XP Pro SP3 and 2K Pro SP4	[SOLVED] Win 2000 Pro Boot Failure Hello and thanks for reading. I have a gaming PC with 2 hard drives. Drive C: has Win XP Pro SP3 installed and D: has Win 2000 Pro SP4. The problem came after a malware attack on the Win 2000 install that has since been scrubbed clean, but the damage has been done. I'll know next time to boot into my well-protected XP drive to download anything. On boot I get this error message; STOP: c000026c {Unable to load device driver} \SystemRoot\ device driver could not be loaded. Error status was 0xc0000020 I would just wipe D: and reinstall 2000 but I learned the hard way that 2000 must be installed 1st. The first time I tried to install 2000 on the D: drive I did so with an existing XP install on C: and I was unable to boot to XP afterwards. The Win 2000 install exists simply to give support for a Microsoft Sidewinder Gamepad so I can play my favorite baseball sim. If there is no easy fix for this problem I may just reformat the drive for extra storage, although I would really hate to lose one of my best games. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

09-10-2009, 12:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
TheOutcaste TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 815 OS: MS-Dos 6.22 - Win7	Re: Win 2000 Pro Boot Failure Copy boot.ini, ntldr, and ntdetect.com from the root of the C drive to a temp folder. Install Win2K copy the 3 files back, overwriting the Win2K files. XP and 2K should both work now __________________ Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Of course I know all the answers; I just don't always match the answers to the right questions. Rated R for Violence -- When your PC flies through a window, that's violent, right?

09-10-2009, 12:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
TheOutcaste TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 815 OS: MS-Dos 6.22 - Win7	Re: Win 2000 Pro Boot Failure Same location as XP, in the Root of the C: drive. Both OS are booting from the C: drive. Installing Win2K overwrites the XP versions which is why XP fails to boot after installing Win2K __________________ Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Of course I know all the answers; I just don't always match the answers to the right questions. Rated R for Violence -- When your PC flies through a window, that's violent, right?

09-10-2009, 05:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
KrisInFla Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 18 OS: Vista Ult X64, Win XP Pro SP3 and 2K Pro SP4	Re: [SOLVED] Win 2000 Pro Boot Failure Success! Many thanks to you for your time and assistance.