Microsoft KB Archive/154733

= Error Accessing Boot Sector File \\BOOTSS =

Article ID: 154733

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q154733





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:

101789Reconstructing 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.

Additional query words: prodnt

Keywords: kbenv KB154733

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