Format Problem

[jmet]

Is there any way to delete a OS off a hard disk?

Example: I have 2 versions of XP on one hard disk. Instead of reformatting the whole disk, can't I just delete 1 OS somehow?

Basically when I boot up, I have to choose which operating system I want to use. Both are XP, but if I choose the first one it fails to boot. If I choose the 2nd one it works fine.

[locoeng]

This would probably be better answered by chewy, but here is what I've found:

http://www.pctechnicians.ca/help/delxpw2k.html

http://www.felgall.com/ntcl6.htm

http://www.ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Remove-One-Operating-System-from-a-Dual-Boot-Windows-XP-Computer&id=52280

[Derree]

I seem to have a similer problem ( I think) while my computer is booting I can pick between the recovery or xp, it gives a short count down and then picks xp..how can I have it automaticaly boot to the right system without this step

[LT. Columbo]

good question, my other pc has this same thing cause i screwed up when installing windows. but it defaults on the main selection and boots up.

[Derree]

Which in an of itself isn't a problem...more of an annoyance really...

[LT. Columbo]

true.

[atifsh]

answer is already posted but u can do same while in xp frm here, instead of finding and editing hidden boot.ini...
u can also leave the 2 or more entries and just remove the pause just incase u need to keep dual boot for later.

[Chewy]

Even if there is only one set of system files when you reinstall windows xp
but leave the boot sector untouched windows remembers the previous install.
By deleting the system partition you avoid this.

Hopefully no one ended up installing a fresh copy on another partition?

If you have 2 sets of OS files start all over.

To get rid of a secondary but non functional/existant boot option simply edit the boot.ini file

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

where a spurious entry is listed where I have insertted x's, I just backspace and save


Jmet post a screenshot of your c drive? do you 2 windows folders?

[jmet]

Here is the story behind this incident.

I was trying to get my old PC operational. The only thing left to do was to install the OS on the hard disk. I took a old 40GB hard drive I had and put it in external enclosure and hooked it up to my laptop via a USB cable. Put the XP disc in when it asked me which partition I wanted XP on, I choose the external hard drive one. All of that went fine. The problem started when I unhooked the USB drive from the laptop and then rebooted the laptop. Upon rebooting the laptop is when I get that stupid OS menu to pick which OS. For some reason the laptop remembered that I installed the OS on that external enclosure and still thinks its attached or something.

I'll get on the laptop later when Amber is finished with it to get a screen shot of the C: drive.

[Chewy]

ur dangerous

copy and paste the boot.ini file from the laptop

[jmet]

YeeeeHawww!!

I fixed it. (Actually you did Chewy) I took it upon myself to edit the boot.ini file.

If it wasn't for you bringing up the boot.ini file and asking me to copy and paste it, I would have never found out that was the root of my problem.

Thanks again Chewy!