x86-Based and RISC-Based ARC Paths Comparison

x86-Based and RISC-Based ARC Paths Comparison

The path to each Windows NT installation is described in a single line in the BOOT.INI file for x86-based computers, however, on RISC-based computers a set of four lines is used in the computer firmware BOOT- options to point to a single Windows NT installation. If there are multiple installations of Windows NT on your x86-based computer, the BOOT.INI has one ARC path for each installation in it. You are prompted with a boot menu during the boot process to choose the installation you want to boot.

There are two basic forms in which an ARC path can appear, one form starting with MULTI() and the other form starting with SCSI(). Both forms are used on x86-based computers, however, only the SCSI() form is used on RISC computers:

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x86-Based Computers

The following are generic examples of two possible BOOT.INI ARC paths:

multi(X)disk(Y)rdisk(Z)partition(W)\

-or-

scsi(X)disk(Y)rdisk(Z)partition(W)\

where X, Y, Z, and W are numbers that identify the item to their left.

Both ARC-path examples above allow Windows NT find the %SystemRoot% directory to complete the boot process by loading files in that reside in that directory. For additional information, see the Differences Between The MULTI(X) And SCSI(X) Syntax And Application section below.