multiple OP SYS removal problem

[jlohojo7]

i got a problem i just inherited this new laptop from a friend who had it stashed away bc he had broke it. I fixed it got it up and going but I think there is 2 operating systems on it i think. Right before the windows xp loading screen it gives me a choice of if i want to start xp pro or xp home. If i scoll down to home it ask for the system disk (which I dont want ) if i go to pro i starts windows normally. How do I get rid of xp home where it wont go to that screen and straight thru to the log on screen.

hope I didnt confuse anyone I can try to clarify if needed thanks .

joe

[Chewy]

someone loaded pro after home, but formatted home away, just not the boot loader?

edit the boot.ini file

start run msconfig

go slow, be careful

[jmet]

edit the boot.ini file to remove the reference to the home edition of XP installation. the boot.ini file is a hidden, read-only, system file located at the root of your system partition (probably c:\boot.ini). after you edit it, remember to put back the system, hidden, read-only attributes

or

log in to the working xp, right-click on My computer icon, go to properties page. on the Advanced tab, Startup and recovery, click on Settings and then select edit. what opens is actually boot.ini. remove the one u want save and exit.

[Furiousg]

Follow jmet's directions to the boot.ini, and there should be two lines that look similar that contain the descriptions you see on the boot selection screen....simply delete the entire line of the OS you do not wish to keep.
Should look similar to below, but the disk/partition selection numbers will be different (just an 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 /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Pro Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

[jlohojo7]

thanks guys problem solved fast and easy !!!

jj

[Furiousg]

If it still boots then

[jlohojo7]

another question !! It says in the disk management aread that i have 39mb of unallocated space how can I delete that if I right click it gives me options for new partition properties or help I just want the drive you know !!

[Furiousg]

I believe you could make it a partition, and then merge that small piece with the main partition. I am unsure though if you can do that with oem Windows tools.

[jmet]

39 MB of unallocated space isn't worth messing with in my opinion. I would leave it alone.

[Furiousg]

True enough jmet...I didn't really even look at the quantity in question. Attempting to retrieve any amount of space by reconfiguring your hard drive will always run the risk of errors and problems that may arise, no boot at all!!

[Chewy]

That space is not an accident but something the computer manufacturer
was hiding from you and windows for a reason.

[jlohojo7]

kind of what I thought you guys thanks for telling me to leave it alone.

Well along with that it is only a 20gig HD i was wanting to upgrade to around 60 or 80.

What is the best way to transfer my current settings on the 20gig to the new one seems like it would be difficult on a laptop. I just dont want to go through the whole downloading updates and sp2 and random programs i have is there a way to do a file transfer with a laptop ?

joe

[Chewy]

is there a way to do a file transfer with a laptop ?

not really, just invest in a firewire/usb2 external hard drive, a laptop with a 20gig hard drive is not something you want to throw any money at

plan on retiring it soon

[jlohojo7]

gotcha thanks alot for everything

[Furiousg]

What exactly is in that space Chewy? My old Dell had roughly the same empty space on the main boot drive. What type of crap do the manufacturers stick in their that most people won't see?? I would have to assume that it only happens when third party companies " manufacture " pc's and load the OS


Dam smooth hijack if I do say so myself ...but related nonetheless