NTLDR:FATAL ERROR 57344 READING BOOT.INI

Just to add to the above answers,  when booting from the Recovery Console disc you should see a prompt to "Press any key to boot from a cd". At that point immediately press any key. It is a good idea to have your finger on the Enter key waiting for the prompt as waiting too long will automatically attempt to boot from the hard drive.

Also, the fact you are now getting the option to run check disk upon start up is an indication the file system is attempting to repair itself. You may be able to repair it using check disk whether from the system prompts or from Recovery Console. However, I think a more likely resolution will end up being to re-write the boot.ini file. Nevertheless, you should try to run check disk first two or three times as noted by Liz.

The time check disk takes depends on the several factors including, but not limited to, the size of your hard drive, the amount of data on the drive and the extent of file corruption should such exist.

@ Liz.. Since the OP has Home it is very likely the OS was installed using the Fat32 file system. :-)

you should put the cd in the tray and reboot.

you may have to run checkdisk two or three times until no errors are found.

I have to do some searching as to why it is saying system is Fat32, it should be ntfs.

a few hours with zero percent complete is not correct.

let me check something first will be right back.

EDIT:  these are the steps you should take

1. go into the BIOS and change the boot sequence to cd drive first, hdd second.
2. save changes and exit
3. place cd in tray
4. reboot
5. you should see a black screen with "press any key to boot from cd"
6. windows set up screen will show
7. when asked if you want to setup windows or repair, do not press enter, press R, this will bring up the recovery console.
8. when asked which windows you want to use, type a 1, as there will most likely be only one choice, then press enter.
9. if it asked for password just hit enter
10. then type in   chkdsk c: /r

Edit 2:

after all of this you should convert your system to NTFS:

http://www.tech-faq.com/how-to-convert-fat32-to-ntfs.html

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307881

Edit 3:

please unmark the question as answered until issue is resolved.

when chkdsk /r  is run it will check the entire disk ,and it can take a looong time depending on

the size of the disk it is checking ..

http://www.windowskb.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/windowsxp/110807/Fatal-error

read this and then run checkdisk from the recovery console

You will have to have your installation cd, I am providing a link to burn a bootable recovery console:

Here's how to  make a bootable xp recovery console cd

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_xp-performance/disk-defragmenter-has-detected-that-chkdsk-is/397271a9-2417-4261-8fc7-145678b6a876

read reply from Elder L.

from the recovery console you want to run the fixboot.

and run checkdisk:

type   chkdsk c: /r     then press enter.

 

Also, need more information:

make, model, and model number of pc

what is your current antivirus

what service pack?

Thanks for taking the time to respond.  Still not quite there with a

resolution.  Update:  Was able to burn the Bootable ISO Image File:

xp_rec_con.iso to a CD.  When I run this file, do I put the CD in the

CD tray before or after I Boot the computer.  Does this file automatically

launch, because I don't see the XP Recovery Console on the screen.

It seems the computer was attempting to boot from the CD.  Unsuccessful

so I removed the CD from the tray and attempted to reboot the computer.

I don't see the error message at the top of the blank screen anymore,

but I do see the following message:

Checking File System On C:

The type of file system is FAT32

One of your disks needs to be checked

for consistency.  You may cancel the

Disk Checks, but it is strongly recommended

that you continue.

Windows will now check the Disk.

Volume Serial Number is 0366-1ED8

Windows is verifying files & folders

Windows replaced bad clusters in file\Boot.INI of name (nu77)

folder\found.002 is entirely unreadable

folder entry removed

0 Percent completed...

Question:  What is the time frame to complete a Checking File System on C:

Have been running the computer for a few hours now with 0 Percent Complete.

There seems to be some activity going on with the drive, also see a red light

on the front of the tower flickering during this System Check.

If I should shut the computer down and reboot, The System Check Message

shows up on the screen again.

Help to resolve this would be appreciated.

http://www.windowskb.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/windowsxp/110807/Fatal-error

read this and then run checkdisk from the recovery console

You will have to have your installation cd, I am providing a link to burn a bootable recovery console:

Here's how to  make a bootable xp recovery console cd

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_xp-performance/disk-defragmenter-has-detected-that-chkdsk-is/397271a9-2417-4261-8fc7-145678b6a876

read reply from Elder L.

from the recovery console you want to run the fixboot.

and run checkdisk:

type   chkdsk c: /r     then press enter.

Also, need more information:

make, model, and model number of pc

what is your current antivirus

what service pack?