Question

Dual Boot Option Not wanted

Asked by: fanofpanic

Ok, I had some registry problems with XP pro and had to go through a lot just to get XP up and running again.  Essentially, I had to do a fresh reinstall and now have the option of booting both XP systems when truing on the computer.  Of course, the first option (the fresh reinstall) works and the second just loops and loops (hence having to do the fresh reinstall).  My question, is how do I get that second XP boot option (and the operating system which is taking up space) off the computer?

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Asked On
2006-10-01 at 10:34:00ID22009082
Tags

dual

,

option

,

get

Topic

Windows XP Operating System

Participating Experts
4
Points
125
Comments
16

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Answers

 

by: jholland79Posted on 2006-10-01 at 12:41:02ID: 17639001

Hi there,
you can remove this as follows:
Open a command prompt.
Type the following commands in order:
cd\
attrib boot.ini -s -h
copy boot.ini boot.bak
notepad boot.ini
(at this stage delete the appropriate line in the Operating Systems section, then save and exit notepad)
attrib boot.ini +s +h

If you reboot at this stage, the boot menu will be gone.
Just be very careful to remove the right line in boot.ini!
Regards,
John.

 

by: DrDamnitPosted on 2006-10-01 at 13:07:42ID: 17639133

Hi jholland79,
There is a safer way to do this.

1. Start MSConfig (Start > Run > MSConfig)
2. CLick on the Boot.ini tab
3. Click Check All Boot Paths.

Cheers!

 

by: jholland79Posted on 2006-10-01 at 13:12:50ID: 17639153

Hi DrDamnit,
I guess fanofpanic will tell us either way, but I don't think that will work. Since "the second just loops and loops", the Boot Path seems to be valid and your method won't remove it from boot.ini. Probably!
Regards,
John.

 

by: fanofpanicPosted on 2006-10-01 at 13:21:11ID: 17639178

here's the deal...i can't even find a way to open the command prompt. (i know what it is...but how do you get to it from xp???) so i can't tell if this is dangerous or not...secondly, i followed the safer way and am unable to delete the boot bath which i want to get rid of....after clicking the 'check all boot paths' i'm told all is well.

 

by: DrDamnitPosted on 2006-10-01 at 13:41:25ID: 17639275

1. Press the WindowsKey + R combination.
2. type 'cmd'
3. Hit enter.

Welcome to the prompt.

 

by: jholland79Posted on 2006-10-01 at 13:42:05ID: 17639278

You can get a command prompt if you click Start, then run, type cmd and click OK.

 

by: DrDamnitPosted on 2006-10-01 at 13:42:36ID: 17639283

1. Open MSConfig, click the boot.ini tab.
2. Select the boot path you want as the default
3. Select "Set as Default"
4. Change the Timeout to 0 seconds.
5. Click apply
6. reboot.

 

by: venom96737Posted on 2006-10-01 at 15:10:48ID: 17639839

Why not edit the boot.ini directly instead of removing the hidden attribute just right click on my computer then goto properties then goto the advanced tab then goto startup and recovery next goto the edit this will display the boot.ini in a notepad do your edits and save all done.

 

by: davexnetPosted on 2006-10-01 at 19:15:25ID: 17640555

Eventually you need to actually delete the unwanted \windows folder which is just taking up space.
Is your original install considered dead?  This is the one your deleting?
Presumably that's in c:\windows.

Where's the second c:\windows2   ?

Why don't you post your boot.ini in here to be sure?

 

by: jholland79Posted on 2006-10-02 at 07:02:15ID: 17643433

Hi venom96737,
does that method create a backup of boot.ini?
John.

 

by: venom96737Posted on 2006-10-02 at 20:54:09ID: 17649102

hey jholland no but a little copy and open a notepad then paste and name it boot.bak and you make your own backup ;)

 

by: fanofpanicPosted on 2006-10-03 at 08:12:03ID: 17652118

Thanks for all the advice.  I can't place the timeout in the boot to 0 but only to 3 seconds.  In any event, that's not solving the problem.  The first boot option is the one I'm using and the second is the one that's not working.  here's the boot.ini :

[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 Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

I know that deleting the folder just taking up space will work, just want to make sure i'm not screwing up the computer more than i already have!

Thanx a lot!

fanofpanic

 

by: jholland79Posted on 2006-10-03 at 08:53:40ID: 17652436

Hi fanofpanic,
If you are sure that the installation in the WINNT folder is th one you no longer need, then you just need to remove the last line. Either of the methods above should work.
Regards,
John.

 

by: fanofpanicPosted on 2006-10-03 at 08:57:46ID: 17652465

i eliminated the last line of the boot and it worked fine..just one final question...does this mean that i still have two xp operating systems occupying space on the drive?

 

by: fanofpanicPosted on 2006-10-03 at 09:35:18ID: 17652761

Thanks for everything...i think since i have a rather large harddrive, i'll keep the other xp files as a safety precaution...it seems some files are embedded and i need them...

As usual, you experts at experts-exchange have come through!!!

Take care and, if you will, keep in mind a line from a band called WIDESPREAD PANIC:

MY PERFORMANCE AIN'T PERFECT BUT IT'S LOUD AND IT'S FAST

Cheers

fanofpanic

 

by: jholland79Posted on 2006-10-03 at 10:39:43ID: 17653178

Hi fanofpanic.
Thanks for the points. Glad you are happier now! :-)
You essentially do have two installation of XP on that one partition. There really should be no need for your new OS to need files in the WINNT folder, but if you have plenty of space, it's probably as handy to leave it there. Btw, I wonder if you attempted a repair installation (also known as an in-place upgrade) before you did the fresh install. It may well have recovered that original OS (minus patches etc) and retained your settings.
Regards,
John.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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