NTLDR:FATAL ERROR 57344 READING BOOT.INI

I cannot tell you why you are getting the error. It sounds like the flash thumb drive may need to be formatted, but I don't want to engage into a different issue getting us off track of our original issue.

You can try to format the flash drive to see if that resolves the issue.

To format it, insert the drive. Navigate to My Computer. Locate the drive then right click on it. Choose format. A new small window will open. Place a check mark in the box for "Quick Format". Allow it to complete.

If that doesn't work you can email the file to yourself. Now boot from the Ubuntu disc. Open the internet browser and download the file from your email.

Download the file from HERE.

The PC Health Status is an integrated diagnostic tool which will check certain hardware components of your computer. Ignore it. Rarely do they produce accurate results.

I may have been a little unclear in my previous post. I am aware that the problematic computer is running Windows XP Home. I was interested in knowing if your primary computer, the one you are using to post here, is a desktop or laptop. The operating system (Xp - Win 7) is really irrelevant. Perhaps you understood what I was asking, but I want and need to be sure.

I do not believe you will need to go into the bios and change the boot order. I base this on the fact that I believe you have indicated you booted from the Ubuntu disc. If I am correct then the cd rom is already set to boot first. Otherwise, it would not have loaded Ubuntu until it was changed in the bios.

Let's give replacing the Boot.ini file a shot a different way before we worry about running Recovery Console from a cd.

1. I have created a Boot.ini file for your computer. Download the file using your primary computer. Place it on the flash/thumb drive.
2. Boot from the Ubuntu cd
3. Once Ubuntu has loaded navigate to the flash/thumb drive and locate the Boot.ini file.
4. Right click on the Boot.ini file and choose "Copy".
5. Now navigate to the hard drive which contains Windows Xp Home (the primary drive). Open the drive. You should see folders named Program Files, Documents and Settings, Windows and so on. If you see those folders you are in the right place. This is called the "root" of the drive.
6. In a free space (not on a file or folder) at the root of the drive right click and choose Paste. You may be prompted to overwrite an existing file. Choose "Yes".
7. Reboot the computer.

Download the file from http://sl12.filemail.com/getfile.ashx?q=120095242245065119169029106059112189249018155027255176139033106178075107194174202116075173159138032128189136008249080157155234104221014159092167092179235025071058031002021113086006058175105014052091105245117047175182053029218248121071106187021167104242235167232223058239141082031047225027063134022000156127235002027089143042088143040019[HERE](https://www.filemail.com/dl.aspx?id=ZOFOADNFZPGXIMN).

Update 11-28-12

Just attempted to download the Boot.ini file to a flashdrive as per

your instructions.  Unfortunately there was a error message.

Boot.ini Path does not exist

Please verify the correct path was given.

Okay to the next option to attempt another download.

This time I chose to burn the file to a CD.  Very successful.

Now I attempted to copy Boot.ini to the flash drive from the CD.

Very unsuccessful.

Error Copying File Or Folder.

Cannot copy Boot:  Cannot find the specific file.

Make sure you specify the correct path and file name.

Back to square one to get some help from my computer Guardian Angel

onboard here.  Will wait for further instructions before attempting the

next steps on the ailing computer.

yes, change to cd first , hdd second save changes and exit

Okay, will get back to you later with how progress is going.

yes, change to cd first , hdd second save changes and exit

The PC Health Status is an integrated diagnostic tool which will check certain hardware components of your computer. Ignore it. Rarely do they produce accurate results.

I may have been a little unclear in my previous post. I am aware that the problematic computer is running Windows XP Home. I was interested in knowing if your primary computer, the one you are using to post here, is a desktop or laptop. The operating system (Xp - Win 7) is really irrelevant. Perhaps you understood what I was asking, but I want and need to be sure.

I do not believe you will need to go into the bios and change the boot order. I base this on the fact that I believe you have indicated you booted from the Ubuntu disc. If I am correct then the cd rom is already set to boot first. Otherwise, it would not have loaded Ubuntu until it was changed in the bios.

Let's give replacing the Boot.ini file a shot a different way before we worry about running Recovery Console from a cd.

1. I have created a Boot.ini file for your computer. Download the file using your primary computer. Place it on the flash/thumb drive.
2. Boot from the Ubuntu cd
3. Once Ubuntu has loaded navigate to the flash/thumb drive and locate the Boot.ini file.
4. Right click on the Boot.ini file and choose "Copy".
5. Now navigate to the hard drive which contains Windows Xp Home (the primary drive). Open the drive. You should see folders named Program Files, Documents and Settings, Windows and so on. If you see those folders you are in the right place. This is called the "root" of the drive.
6. In a free space (not on a file or folder) at the root of the drive right click and choose Paste. You may be prompted to overwrite an existing file. Choose "Yes".
7. Reboot the computer.

Download the file from http://sl12.filemail.com/getfile.ashx?q=120095242245065119169029106059112189249018155027255176139033106178075107194174202116075173159138032128189136008249080157155234104221014159092167092179235025071058031002021113086006058175105014052091105245117047175182053029218248121071106187021167104242235167232223058239141082031047225027063134022000156127235002027089143042088143040019[HERE](https://www.filemail.com/dl.aspx?id=ZOFOADNFZPGXIMN).

Answer to your questions:

Primary Computer is a Desktop, running Windows XP Home Edition

that was upgraded from Windows ME 3 years ago. 

The Ubunta Disc was downloaded and burned to a CD only, haven't

attempted to use it yet.

The file XP_rec_con.iso was burned to a CD, but unsuccessful to boot,

because it wasn't the primary.  It was the secondary, so the Chkds booted

directly from the computer.  Received instructions to change the settings

in BIOS to make the CD your primary and then it would boot.  This I didn't

attempt, because the chkds was functioning directly from the computer

had a very, very slow pace for 7 days before I had no choice, but to cancel.

So should I go into the BIOS settings and make the CD the primary before

going further to download the boot.ini file to a flashdrive as per your instructions.