I inadvertently (read: stupidly!) tried to format a brand new second (slave)
HD using Windows. Result: a partial install of OS on the slave drive. At
boot, I receive an error msg. that Windows can't start because of missing or
corrupted files.

I CAN get into a choice menu (by pressing F8 quickly enough) to choose one
of two options of "Microsoft Windows XP." Choosing gets me to my original
install on C:\ but I can't get rid of that second install!

I've used WD's diagnostics to write zeros to the slave drive, but the boot
up problems remain.

Any way to get rid of/remove/uninstall Windows in its "corrupted" state from
the slave drive and restore it to its factory setting?

Thanks any help.

Giovanna Visconti
New York City

"GIOVANNI VISCONTI" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:un2c$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I inadvertently (read: stupidly!) tried to format a brand new second
(slave)
> HD using Windows. Result: a partial install of OS on the slave drive. At
> boot, I receive an error msg. that Windows can't start because of missing
or
> corrupted files.
>
> I CAN get into a choice menu (by pressing F8 quickly enough) to choose one
> of two options of "Microsoft Windows XP." Choosing gets me to my original
> install on C:\ but I can't get rid of that second install!
>
> I've used WD's diagnostics to write zeros to the slave drive, but the boot
> up problems remain.
>
> Any way to get rid of/remove/uninstall Windows in its "corrupted" state
from
> the slave drive and restore it to its factory setting?
>


Just edit boot.ini and make your current system the default...
then remove the unwanted entry

To be safe...make a backup


format a floppy from your present machine
and copy boot.ini, ntdetect.com & ntldr to it

then test first!

msconfig>boot.ini>check boot paths
stupidly? formating the hd in windows>disk management is the correct place,
but formating with the win cd whilst not incorrect, can have unintended
consequences

"GIOVANNI VISCONTI" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:un2c$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I inadvertently (read: stupidly!) tried to format a brand new second
(slave)
> HD using Windows. Result: a partial install of OS on the slave drive. At
> boot, I receive an error msg. that Windows can't start because of missing
or
> corrupted files.
>
> I CAN get into a choice menu (by pressing F8 quickly enough) to choose one
> of two options of "Microsoft Windows XP." Choosing gets me to my original
> install on C:\ but I can't get rid of that second install!
>
> I've used WD's diagnostics to write zeros to the slave drive, but the boot
> up problems remain.
>
> Any way to get rid of/remove/uninstall Windows in its "corrupted" state
from
> the slave drive and restore it to its factory setting?
>
> Thanks any help.
>
> Giovanna Visconti
> New York City
>
>

If you used a zero write (wipe) utility then there is nothing left on
the drive. The only remnants of the failed installation should only be
an entry to it in the boot.ini file. To rid yourself of that use the
msconfig utility to check boot paths and remove the invalid one. To do so:

Click on Start | Run and enter msconfig Click on the Boot.ini tab and
have it "Check all boot paths".

John

GIOVANNI VISCONTI wrote:

> I inadvertently (read: stupidly!) tried to format a brand new second (slave)
> HD using Windows. Result: a partial install of OS on the slave drive. At
> boot, I receive an error msg. that Windows can't start because of missing or
> corrupted files.
>
> I CAN get into a choice menu (by pressing F8 quickly enough) to choose one
> of two options of "Microsoft Windows XP." Choosing gets me to my original
> install on C:\ but I can't get rid of that second install!
>
> I've used WD's diagnostics to write zeros to the slave drive, but the boot
> up problems remain.
>
> Any way to get rid of/remove/uninstall Windows in its "corrupted" state from
> the slave drive and restore it to its factory setting?
>
> Thanks any help.
>
> Giovanna Visconti
> New York City
>
>

Thank you Philo, DL and John John. I edited boot.ini and removed the
offending truncated OS!

Everything should be so easy.

Yes, DL, the "stupid" part was using the XP CD to format the slave drive. A
complete brain cramp re disk management!

Anyway, much appreciated, and thanks again.

Giovanna
"GIOVANNI VISCONTI" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:un2c$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I inadvertently (read: stupidly!) tried to format a brand new second
>(slave) HD using Windows. Result: a partial install of OS on the slave
>drive. At boot, I receive an error msg. that Windows can't start because of
>missing or corrupted files.
>
> I CAN get into a choice menu (by pressing F8 quickly enough) to choose one
> of two options of "Microsoft Windows XP." Choosing gets me to my original
> install on C:\ but I can't get rid of that second install!
>
> I've used WD's diagnostics to write zeros to the slave drive, but the boot
> up problems remain.
>
> Any way to get rid of/remove/uninstall Windows in its "corrupted" state
> from the slave drive and restore it to its factory setting?
>
> Thanks any help.
>
> Giovanna Visconti
> New York City
>

"GIOVANNI VISCONTI" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thank you Philo, DL and John John. I edited boot.ini and removed the
> offending truncated OS!
>
> Everything should be so easy.
>
> Yes, DL, the "stupid" part was using the XP CD to format the slave drive.
A
> complete brain cramp re disk management!
>
> Anyway, much appreciated, and thanks again.
>
>

Glad you have it all sorted out now!

With a little help from my friends!
"philo" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "GIOVANNI VISCONTI" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Thank you Philo, DL and John John. I edited boot.ini and removed the
>> offending truncated OS!
>>
>> Everything should be so easy.
>>
>> Yes, DL, the "stupid" part was using the XP CD to format the slave drive.
> A
>> complete brain cramp re disk management!
>>
>> Anyway, much appreciated, and thanks again.
>>
>>
>
> Glad you have it all sorted out now!
>
>