2 versions of windows xp on hard drive

[Todd]

Hi, I have somehow managed to install 2 versions of windows XP on my hard
drive. I would like to get rid of one of these as I keep getting asked which
version I want to load when I boot the machine. I would like to keep my
original version.

Can anyone suggest how to do this?

Thanks,

 

[Kelly]

Hi Todd,

If you are speaking of the screen after post:

Right click My Computer/Properties/Advanced/Startup and Recovery (Settings).

Uncheck Time to display list...
Time to display recovery...

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

[Andrew E.]

Install xp cd,boot pc to xp cd,at menu screen, press the r key,at recovery
console,select 1 For C: Press enter key for password,type: DiskPart In
DiskPart,delete the unwanted xp partition,press ESC key,or create a new
partition in the now "raw state",press ESC,type: EXIT or FORMAT D: /FS:NTFS
D: being the newly created partition...

 

[Todd]

Thanks, I'll give these a try.

 

[peter]

I would be wary of Andrew's answer. He is assuming you have the 2nd install
of XP on a 2nd partition.
Your question did not state a 2nd partition. You might want to clarify this
and also double check the directories of your
HD to see if you have 2 Windows directories on the same Partition/HD.
The Boot.ini file in the root of the C drive which you can open with notepad
will list the 2 XP paths. Verify their locations and remove the
line you don’t want. This will remove the dual boot option at start but not
get rid of the 2nd install directory.That would need to be removed manually
if on the same Partition as the original installation. If you actualy do
have a 2nd partion with the new XP installation on it that partition can be
formatted under XP without the use of the installation CD.

peter

 

[db]

well, do you want
to uninstall one of
the o.s.'s or simply
remove one of the
boot menu lines?

having a secondary
o.s. as a backup
can come in handy.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen

 

[Nate Grossman]

I would be wary of Andrew's answer.

One should be wary of ANY answer from Andrew!

ANY ANSWER.

 

[Todd]

I want to get rid of the second version altogether. Somehow, I now have a C
and D drive, but my computer originally only had the C drive. Installing the
second version has now created the D drive, which I don't want.

 

[Anna]

I want to get rid of the second version altogether. Somehow, I now have a
C
and D drive, but my computer originally only had the C drive. Installing
the
second version has now created the D drive, which I don't want.

Todd:
1. Boot into your C: partition.
2. Using Disk Management, delete the D: partition. I'm assuming there's no
data on that partition that you want. If there is, copy or move over such
data to your C: partition or to other media.
3. Access your boot.ini file and delete the entry referring to your D:
partition, i.e., "partition(2)". The entry will be similar, if not identical
to this one...
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP"
/noexecute=optin /fastdetect
4. If the "timeout" entry (seconds) indicates 30, you may want to change it
to a lower number, e.g., 10.
5. Save the new boot.ini file.
6. Reboot.
7. The former disk space that contained your "second" version of the OS will
now be "unallocated" disk space. You can partition/format such using the DM
utility and use that partition for backup/storage, etc. purposes if you
want.

If you want to merge that disk space with your C: partition (or otherwise
multi-partition its size), you will need a third-party partition manager
type of program. A freely available one is the EASEUS Partition Master
program - see http://www.partition-tool.com/
Anna

 

[db]

it sounds like you
installed a new os
to a new partition.

once removing the
additional o.s. the
d drive will still be
there.

so you would have
to delete that partition
as well.

perhaps, the easiest
method is to format
that d drive.


--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- Microsoft Partner
- @hotmail.com
~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen

 

[Bill in Co.]

DatabaseBen, Retired Professional

~~~~~~~~~~"share the nirvana" - dbZen

??? I haven't see much evidence of nirvana in your postings.

 

[Todd]

Thanks all, will probably try to sum up the courage this weekend and let you
know the results.

 

[Anna]

Thanks all, will probably try to sum up the courage this weekend and let
you
know the results.

Todd:
Just one other thing which I should have included in my previous post...

While the suggested "plan of action" should pose no difficulties nor
problems for you, all of us who have worked on PCs know that for one reason
or another things can go awry. So when a major change in the present
configuration is called for as it is in this case, it's *always*, repeat,
*always* prudent that if all possible the user clone or image the contents
of his/her HDD before undertaking the process. If this is not practical
because the user does not have a disk-cloning or disk-imaging program, at
the minimum he or she should copy whatever data is on the HDD that is
important to some other media.
Anna