ok.... first thing everyone needs to realize is that this problem with the boot.ini file being messed up only applied to Windows XP (Home and Pro), no other OS. Second, the problem only happened on machines where people were upgrading the standard client from the classic version (old eve graphics) to the new Premium client (new graphics). It has nothing to do with the patch for the classic version itself, and does not happen if installing the premium version from scratch (ie: fresh install of the premium only version).
Next thing for people to understand is that this issue ONLY applies to those who upgraded from classic to premium before 4am GMT. The servers only came back online at 12am GMT. So this bug was detected and fixed within four hours of deployment.
With that said, I see no reason what so ever as to why this issue was even posted to MMORPG.com and sent out as a newsletter post as late as it was (after 10am EST, or 3pm GMT) as the issue was resolved 13 hours prior.
To Mr. bubbles: I have no idea how you have your drives setup (likely some sort of RAID configuration... though that only explains the different disks, not the 5 partitions per disk), but a normal install of windows on a single drive is FAR FAR less complex.
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition" /fastdetect
and if you are truly smart your last line would look like:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
The "/noexacute=optin" bit being the command to enable DEP, and prevent malicious code from being run at startup (something vista does by default, but XP users must turn on).
Finally, to anyone who sees this as an issue that will "kill your computer", you are very wrong. There is no need to format or reinstall windows or any such nonsense. You can easily restore your boot.ini file by running system restore and recovery from your WIN XP install disc. Something that anyone with an iota of conscious thought can do (guess that leaves out Mac users huh? But hey they're Mac users, so who cares anyway?)
*EDIT* To Coldfire:
To quote, "their is a post in the EVE forums that they were alerted to this durring beta testing. If this is true its nothing less then GROSS NEGLIGENCE - Failure to use even the slightest amount of care in a way that shows Recklessness or willful disregard for the safety of others."
Safety of others? Gross Negligence? Man you must not get out much. 1) rumors are just that... and with no evidence to back them up are worth less than the electronic text they are written in. 2) If this was brought up in the beta test and the issue was not resolved, yes it's CCP's fault for it slipping through, however I do not see it as "gross negligence". Perhaps you need to look up the definition of that term and see how it applies to the real world. 3) I'm fairly certain no one was made "unsafe" by the patch, even if it did cause a startup issue. As I said, it's a simple thing to fix by just sticking in your install disc. No child deaths or terrorist actions have (or will) come about from this little problem. So do everyone a favor and stop nerding out. Go get laid or something.
I agree this is a serious error on CCP's part and a number of PC owners will not know about the fix as i assume they have one computer and its now not working. However, there is always one person who immediatly sees this as equal to nuclear war and dives into complaining to national newspapers, mass protests,legal action and , bless you, you have even taken the time to create a catchy little name for the whole episode ...imsure that will take off ncely on the forums.
Hacker, the servers came up well before 2am gmt, so there was more than enough time for people to mess up their systems. Thanks for you input though. (For anyone who actually was attempting to log in they came up around 7pm EST or 12 am gmt)
Thank you for the correction "TheFirst". I was working off the information that the patch would be a 24 hour deployment as stated by CCP. So 4 hours from deployment to detection and fix. Still sounds like a quick response to me.
NP overall I think it was a fast response time, unless they were in fact told by the testers that this was happening as some people have been previously stating
Neopsych why is it when people dont have facts on their side they resort to name calling, lol. EVE online black screaned peoples computers, Not I.
So whats being dramatic acting like EVE online did nothing wrong for erasing the boot part of windows or just calling them out on it?
The fact that other posters reported that EVE possibly was made away that this could happen durring beta is important also.
EVE online aka CCP released the much awaited Trinity patch which acted more like the Trinity Virus. Customers should be made hole, some im sure will or have already had to pay a tech to get them up and running again.
Firstly, its "whole" rather than "hole" - I can never resist a humourous play on words.
Secondly, I do not disagree in the slightest with you that is a serious and unnecessary error on CCP's part and with basic proper pre-launch testing should have been identified.
My problem is with people who immediatly jump to cries for protests,legal proceedings and fire and brimstone. Its a game, thats all it is. I am sure that CCP are fully aware of the discord this will cause and, my personal view, they seem to be a company that will take responsibility for this mistake - yes, a mistake - and hopefully will do right by those people who have been hit with costs to repair / recover. How about we give them 5 minutes to consider and respond before we call the papers though?
"Commnuity" is a 2 way process. I try not to hang on a first offence
Thank you for the correction "TheFirst". I was working off the information that the patch would be a 24 hour deployment as stated by CCP. So 4 hours from deployment to detection and fix. Still sounds like a quick response to me.
{ Mod Edit }
Its only a big deal because you lost your boot disk [you said so in an earlier rant post].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Retired from: Neocron, Everquest, Everquest 2, Guild Wars, RF Online and Final Fantasy VII
Yeah, laughable fiascos like this just make me want to run out and try this game.
Great way to end the year for the MMORPG genre! We started out with the "launch" of Vanguard, then witnessed the collapse of Auto Assault then Gods and Heroes and now this. Been quite a stellar year for MMORPGs!
Thank you for the correction "TheFirst". I was working off the information that the patch would be a 24 hour deployment as stated by CCP. So 4 hours from deployment to detection and fix. Still sounds like a quick response to me.
{ Mod Edit }
Its only a big deal because you lost your boot disk [you said so in an earlier rant post].
NO, it's only a big deal because of a stupid move by CCP to actually name a file the same as a integral file in the Windows operating system. With the constant changes and updates that always happen in online games, something like this was bound to happen sooner or later and it's a wonder it didn't happen sooner. I expect CCP to also claim they were never warned by beta testers too. And if that was indeed the case, why didn't they test the update themselves on all systems before releasing it. Lines of code don't change just moving a program from a test server to a live server so they SHOULD have caught it before releasing it.
Posted - 2007.12.03 16:57:00 - [8] One thing I noticed yesterday was that the content upgrade install blew away C:oot.ini. I'm sure that the intention is to actually delete <EVE Install Folder>oot.ini. Might need to fix that! Shocked
The forums are not the correct place for a bug report especially the section it was posted under, if that person had bug reported it through the proper channels maybe it wouldnt have happened.
One thing I noticed yesterday was that the content upgrade install blew away C:oot.ini. I'm sure that the intention is to actually delete <EVE Install Folder>oot.ini. Might need to fix that! Shocked
Little suprise the Bugfixers didnt get it considering it was posted in the wrong forum at arund 24 hours before the forums were taken offline for the patching. Never mind im sure the trolls will stillahve fun with this useless fact.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Retired from: Neocron, Everquest, Everquest 2, Guild Wars, RF Online and Final Fantasy VII
As long as you have a XP disk (or 2k if you're using that, both use the boot.ini files), it's rather easy to get fixed and working again if you know a bit about Windows. Follow MS's guide here for step by step recovery instructions: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330184
and it's not like it's a hard fix. pop in your windows cd, start the computer up, hit a key to boot from said cd, hit r to enter the repair console, and type "fixboot"
voila. new boot.ini file.
And for those who turned off their comps to go to work or bed after installing, who only have the one comp ( so no access to forums to even know this was the cause)? Who aren't technologically savvy and don't have friends who are? And then come home or wake up to find their computer doesn't work? So they take it to the shop to fix it, because they don't know the problem? Is that considered an easy fix to you?
Wow pretty crazy. I've heard of devs changing game mechanics, even gutting whole games (SWG NGE), but never something of this magnitude. It actually deletes your boot.ini file? Friggin insane!
And I agree with the argument that most people aren't IT's(Information technicians), and probably won't have a clue why their comps are broken. And no, bringing the comp to a repair shop is not an easy fix, not to mention it is a costly one. I know in my area, at most shops it is a 100 dollar fee (US), just for someone to look at it and tell you whats wrong with it. I know because I am an IT myself. This seems to be an aggregious error on CCP's part.
and it's not like it's a hard fix. pop in your windows cd, start the computer up, hit a key to boot from said cd, hit r to enter the repair console, and type "fixboot"
voila. new boot.ini file.
And for those who turned off their comps to go to work or bed after installing, who only have the one comp ( so no access to forums to even know this was the cause)? Who aren't technologically savvy and don't have friends who are? And then come home or wake up to find their computer doesn't work? So they take it to the shop to fix it, because they don't know the problem? Is that considered an easy fix to you?
Please.
Do those kind of people even exist in Eve?
Having a hard time beliveing that, even your computer will tell you something is wrong and to enter your installation disk.
Do those kind of people even exist in Eve? Having a hard time beliveing that, even your computer will tell you something is wrong and to enter your installation disk.
Bear in mind a lot of people on this website like to stir uparguments for fun so its only to be expected.
Heh my comp runs Xp SP2 the most commanly effected system and i still ahd no problem logging into windows as it automatically did it for me despite the lack of a Boot file.
I ahve since repalced the bot file tho [took me 8 minuites]. And i didnt even have to use my OS disk.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Retired from: Neocron, Everquest, Everquest 2, Guild Wars, RF Online and Final Fantasy VII
Downloading the EVE online much hyped about Trinity expansion causes peoples comoputers to become unbootable is a nuclear screw up by CCP.
So what does the EVE online fanbase say about this? That anyone who was affected and complaines about it is a trouble maker just looking for attention. That if you cant fix your computer your self its your own fault and you are not worthy to fly in the EVE universe.
Thier was a time when i thought that CCP was the one holding EVE back from becomming a more popular MMO. I was wrong, its the FANBOY player base, lol.
EVE online modified players operating systems to become unbootable aka brain dead in laymans terms. THe EVE fan Boys feel this is the customers problem and if you cant fix it your not worthy. Does this sound like EVE online might be the game for you?
Do those kind of people even exist in Eve? Having a hard time beliveing that, even your computer will tell you something is wrong and to enter your installation disk.
Bear in mind a lot of people on this website like to stir uparguments for fun so its only to be expected.
Heh my comp runs Xp SP2 the most commanly effected system and i still ahd no problem logging into windows as it automatically did it for me despite the lack of a Boot file.
I ahve since repalced the bot file tho [took me 8 minuites]. And i didnt even have to use my OS disk.
First off to niakori, get off the elitist bs bandwagon. All of EvEs players are not computer fucking geniuses. One perfect example of that point is you, as your comp doesn't tell you to insert your install disk with a HAL error, it says HAL not found
Secondly to MR-Bubble, I'm not stirring up "arguments for fun". Either show that what I stated is wrong, or shut the f*ck up. Wanna crawl up inside CCP, go ahead and do it on their forums.
I am seriously sick and tired of seeing "holier than thou" EvE players critcizing, putting down, and downright ostracizing other players who have been fucked over due to CCPs' blatant negligence. EvE is not fucking "Mensa Online". In fact, some of you are demonstrating quite clearly that EvE does indeed have a short bus filled to capacity.
I heard all people who play Eve Online are geniuses... Hahahaha. Takes a genius to play a video game. Anyway, back to Earth-
This was a huge screw up. There's quite a few Eve Online players out there who are offline and I feel bad for them. This should never have happened, and I hope somehow things are made right.
One possible solution might be if the company has their tech support call folks at home from the number they listed when they created their account. They could alert them to the problem and give them a toll free number to call back and get free customer support to get up and running again.
Comments
Looks like it deleted mine, luckly i dual-boot with vista which uses its own bootmanager, so i didnt notice until i read the news...
Theres always something thats fubar'd with these big patches.
ok.... first thing everyone needs to realize is that this problem with the boot.ini file being messed up only applied to Windows XP (Home and Pro), no other OS. Second, the problem only happened on machines where people were upgrading the standard client from the classic version (old eve graphics) to the new Premium client (new graphics). It has nothing to do with the patch for the classic version itself, and does not happen if installing the premium version from scratch (ie: fresh install of the premium only version).
Next thing for people to understand is that this issue ONLY applies to those who upgraded from classic to premium before 4am GMT. The servers only came back online at 12am GMT. So this bug was detected and fixed within four hours of deployment.
With that said, I see no reason what so ever as to why this issue was even posted to MMORPG.com and sent out as a newsletter post as late as it was (after 10am EST, or 3pm GMT) as the issue was resolved 13 hours prior.
To Mr. bubbles: I have no idea how you have your drives setup (likely some sort of RAID configuration... though that only explains the different disks, not the 5 partitions per disk), but a normal install of windows on a single drive is FAR FAR less complex.
example:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect
OR
[boot loader]
timeout=60
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition" /fastdetect
and if you are truly smart your last line would look like:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
The "/noexacute=optin" bit being the command to enable DEP, and prevent malicious code from being run at startup (something vista does by default, but XP users must turn on).
Finally, to anyone who sees this as an issue that will "kill your computer", you are very wrong. There is no need to format or reinstall windows or any such nonsense. You can easily restore your boot.ini file by running system restore and recovery from your WIN XP install disc. Something that anyone with an iota of conscious thought can do (guess that leaves out Mac users huh? But hey they're Mac users, so who cares anyway?)
*EDIT* To Coldfire:
To quote, "their is a post in the EVE forums that they were alerted to this durring beta testing. If this is true its nothing less then GROSS NEGLIGENCE - Failure to use even the slightest amount of care in a way that shows Recklessness or willful disregard for the safety of others."
Safety of others? Gross Negligence? Man you must not get out much. 1) rumors are just that... and with no evidence to back them up are worth less than the electronic text they are written in. 2) If this was brought up in the beta test and the issue was not resolved, yes it's CCP's fault for it slipping through, however I do not see it as "gross negligence". Perhaps you need to look up the definition of that term and see how it applies to the real world. 3) I'm fairly certain no one was made "unsafe" by the patch, even if it did cause a startup issue. As I said, it's a simple thing to fix by just sticking in your install disc. No child deaths or terrorist actions have (or will) come about from this little problem. So do everyone a favor and stop nerding out. Go get laid or something.
{ Mod Edit }
I agree this is a serious error on CCP's part and a number of PC owners will not know about the fix as i assume they have one computer and its now not working. However, there is always one person who immediatly sees this as equal to nuclear war and dives into complaining to national newspapers, mass protests,legal action and , bless you, you have even taken the time to create a catchy little name for the whole episode ...imsure that will take off ncely on the forums.
{ Mod edit }
To err is human....to play is divine
Hacker, the servers came up well before 2am gmt, so there was more than enough time for people to mess up their systems. Thanks for you input though. (For anyone who actually was attempting to log in they came up around 7pm EST or 12 am gmt)
Thank you for the correction "TheFirst". I was working off the information that the patch would be a 24 hour deployment as stated by CCP. So 4 hours from deployment to detection and fix. Still sounds like a quick response to me.
NP
overall I think it was a fast response time, unless they were in fact told by the testers that this was happening as some people have been previously stating
Neopsych why is it when people dont have facts on their side they resort to name calling, lol. EVE online black screaned peoples computers, Not I.
So whats being dramatic acting like EVE online did nothing wrong for erasing the boot part of windows or just calling them out on it?
The fact that other posters reported that EVE possibly was made away that this could happen durring beta is important also.
EVE online aka CCP released the much awaited Trinity patch which acted more like the Trinity Virus. Customers should be made hole, some im sure will or have already had to pay a tech to get them up and running again.
Firstly, its "whole" rather than "hole" - I can never resist a humourous play on words.
Secondly, I do not disagree in the slightest with you that is a serious and unnecessary error on CCP's part and with basic proper pre-launch testing should have been identified.
My problem is with people who immediatly jump to cries for protests,legal proceedings and fire and brimstone. Its a game, thats all it is. I am sure that CCP are fully aware of the discord this will cause and, my personal view, they seem to be a company that will take responsibility for this mistake - yes, a mistake - and hopefully will do right by those people who have been hit with costs to repair / recover. How about we give them 5 minutes to consider and respond before we call the papers though?
"Commnuity" is a 2 way process. I try not to hang on a first offence
To err is human....to play is divine
Its only a big deal because you lost your boot disk [you said so in an earlier rant post].
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retired from: Neocron, Everquest, Everquest 2, Guild Wars, RF Online and Final Fantasy VII
Currently Playing : EvE Online.
Yeah, laughable fiascos like this just make me want to run out and try this game.
Great way to end the year for the MMORPG genre! We started out with the "launch" of Vanguard, then witnessed the collapse of Auto Assault then Gods and Heroes and now this. Been quite a stellar year for MMORPGs!
Its only a big deal because you lost your boot disk [you said so in an earlier rant post].
NO, it's only a big deal because of a stupid move by CCP to actually name a file the same as a integral file in the Windows operating system. With the constant changes and updates that always happen in online games, something like this was bound to happen sooner or later and it's a wonder it didn't happen sooner. I expect CCP to also claim they were never warned by beta testers too. And if that was indeed the case, why didn't they test the update themselves on all systems before releasing it. Lines of code don't change just moving a program from a test server to a live server so they SHOULD have caught it before releasing it.
This is pure comedy.
Notice the date.
http://myeve.eve-online.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=648131&page=1#8
The forums are not the correct place for a bug report especially the section it was posted under, if that person had bug reported it through the proper channels maybe it wouldnt have happened.
Notice the date.
http://myeve.eve-online.com/ingameboard.asp?a=topic&threadID=648131&page=1#8
Little suprise the Bugfixers didnt get it considering it was posted in the wrong forum at arund 24 hours before the forums were taken offline for the patching. Never mind im sure the trolls will stillahve fun with this useless fact.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retired from: Neocron, Everquest, Everquest 2, Guild Wars, RF Online and Final Fantasy VII
Currently Playing : EvE Online.
*sigh*
and it's not like it's a hard fix.
pop in your windows cd, start the computer up, hit a key to boot from said cd, hit r to enter the repair console, and type "fixboot"
voila. new boot.ini file.
Do not format your hard drive to fix this issue.
As long as you have a XP disk (or 2k if you're using that, both use the boot.ini files), it's rather easy to get fixed and working again if you know a bit about Windows. Follow MS's guide here for step by step recovery instructions: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330184
Huge screw up by CCP. Luckily I have since dawn of time always had Windows on its own partition which saved me again
I may be taking my forum life in my hands but how about a little levity in this flamewar?
From Curzon Dax's album EVE Parodies:
http://dl.eve-files.com/media/corp/CurzonDax/Forum_Whiners_Unite.mp3
And for those who turned off their comps to go to work or bed after installing, who only have the one comp ( so no access to forums to even know this was the cause)? Who aren't technologically savvy and don't have friends who are? And then come home or wake up to find their computer doesn't work? So they take it to the shop to fix it, because they don't know the problem? Is that considered an easy fix to you?
Please.
Wow pretty crazy. I've heard of devs changing game mechanics, even gutting whole games (SWG NGE), but never something of this magnitude. It actually deletes your boot.ini file? Friggin insane!
And I agree with the argument that most people aren't IT's(Information technicians), and probably won't have a clue why their comps are broken. And no, bringing the comp to a repair shop is not an easy fix, not to mention it is a costly one. I know in my area, at most shops it is a 100 dollar fee (US), just for someone to look at it and tell you whats wrong with it. I know because I am an IT myself. This seems to be an aggregious error on CCP's part.
And for those who turned off their comps to go to work or bed after installing, who only have the one comp ( so no access to forums to even know this was the cause)? Who aren't technologically savvy and don't have friends who are? And then come home or wake up to find their computer doesn't work? So they take it to the shop to fix it, because they don't know the problem? Is that considered an easy fix to you?
Please.
Do those kind of people even exist in Eve?
Having a hard time beliveing that, even your computer will tell you something is wrong and to enter your installation disk.
~dai
Heh my comp runs Xp SP2 the most commanly effected system and i still ahd no problem logging into windows as it automatically did it for me despite the lack of a Boot file.
I ahve since repalced the bot file tho [took me 8 minuites]. And i didnt even have to use my OS disk.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retired from: Neocron, Everquest, Everquest 2, Guild Wars, RF Online and Final Fantasy VII
Currently Playing : EvE Online.
Downloading the EVE online much hyped about Trinity expansion causes peoples comoputers to become unbootable is a nuclear screw up by CCP.
So what does the EVE online fanbase say about this? That anyone who was affected and complaines about it is a trouble maker just looking for attention. That if you cant fix your computer your self its your own fault and you are not worthy to fly in the EVE universe.
Thier was a time when i thought that CCP was the one holding EVE back from becomming a more popular MMO. I was wrong, its the FANBOY player base, lol.
EVE online modified players operating systems to become unbootable aka brain dead in laymans terms. THe EVE fan Boys feel this is the customers problem and if you cant fix it your not worthy. Does this sound like EVE online might be the game for you?
Bear in mind a lot of people on this website like to stir uparguments for fun so its only to be expected.Heh my comp runs Xp SP2 the most commanly effected system and i still ahd no problem logging into windows as it automatically did it for me despite the lack of a Boot file.
I ahve since repalced the bot file tho [took me 8 minuites]. And i didnt even have to use my OS disk.
First off to niakori, get off the elitist bs bandwagon. All of EvEs players are not computer fucking geniuses. One perfect example of that point is you, as your comp doesn't tell you to insert your install disk with a HAL error, it says HAL not found
Secondly to MR-Bubble, I'm not stirring up "arguments for fun". Either show that what I stated is wrong, or shut the f*ck up. Wanna crawl up inside CCP, go ahead and do it on their forums.
I am seriously sick and tired of seeing "holier than thou" EvE players critcizing, putting down, and downright ostracizing other players who have been fucked over due to CCPs' blatant negligence. EvE is not fucking "Mensa Online". In fact, some of you are demonstrating quite clearly that EvE does indeed have a short bus filled to capacity.
I heard all people who play Eve Online are geniuses...
Hahahaha. Takes a genius to play a video game. Anyway, back to Earth- 
This was a huge screw up. There's quite a few Eve Online players out there who are offline and I feel bad for them. This should never have happened, and I hope somehow things are made right.
One possible solution might be if the company has their tech support call folks at home from the number they listed when they created their account. They could alert them to the problem and give them a toll free number to call back and get free customer support to get up and running again.