boot information

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joe
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J

Joe

Can someone explain to me something that has made me curious a few times? I
had a pc set up with 2 partitions one with win2k and one with xp installed.
I wanted to perform a clean install with just xp so I booted to the xp cd,
deleted the partitions, created a new partion and allowed it to format and
install the new xp. but then when it does its reboot, it then came to that
dual boot screen to select the os I wanted to boot up only now there are 3
choices, 2-xp's and 1-2k. where is this information coming from if i wiped
the hard drive and reformated? I even flashed the BIOS with the latest and
reset it to defaults so I don't believe it's from there. That really has me
puzzled, and it's not the first time I've seen this or similar, so I believe
it's repeatable.
 
Joe said:
Can someone explain to me something that has made me curious a few times? I
had a pc set up with 2 partitions one with win2k and one with xp installed.
I wanted to perform a clean install with just xp so I booted to the xp cd,
deleted the partitions, created a new partion and allowed it to format and
install the new xp. but then when it does its reboot, it then came to that
dual boot screen to select the os I wanted to boot up only now there are 3
choices, 2-xp's and 1-2k. where is this information coming from if i wiped
the hard drive and reformated? I even flashed the BIOS with the latest and
reset it to defaults so I don't believe it's from there. That really has me
puzzled, and it's not the first time I've seen this or similar, so I believe
it's repeatable.
Click to expand...

Hi Joe - There is an option in Windows XP to edit the boot.ini file which is
where the information is coming from. I can't remember exactly which buttons
to click, but if you right click My Computer and select properties, work
your way round all the buttons, and you should see it eventually. I would
have been able to tell you better if I had XP on here.

The reason why the information is still showing is because you have not
re-partitioned or formatted the systems master boot disk - hdd c: in most
cases, unless you are scsi based.

You can also edit the file boot.ini by hand but it does involve a more
severe approach. Having to re-assign the files attribute flags and un-hiding
it so you can see it, not really the reconmended way of doing things, but
achievable.

HTH

TpwUK
 
Unless I am misunderstanding, I did format the master boot disk. I deleted
all partitions and created one new partition, and the formated it. so I
don't understand how a file on the c: drive could still remain.
 
Joe said:
Unless I am misunderstanding, I did format the master boot disk. I deleted
all partitions and created one new partition, and the formated it. so I
don't understand how a file on the c: drive could still remain.
Click to expand...

I have never had a file survive a format after partitioning so I can't see
where its getting the information from sorry - but the advice given is still
good, if somewhat vague
 
I wonder if that file exists on some sort of hidden partition? maybe I'll
try booting to a partition magic cd and see if I find anything interesting
there. It seems to me any file that existed on that c partition would be
gone for good.
 
or maybe since I am using a windows XP cd to do the partitioning and
formating, maybe microsoft has something written in there to save or restore
that file?? Now I am wondering if I shouldn't use some other method to wipe
the CD first. If that suspicion is correct then I wonder what else they
have being saved from the old system? I'm sure I'm not the only one who is
under the impression that doing a reformat wipes out all existing files.
 
Joe said:
or maybe since I am using a windows XP cd to do the partitioning and
formating, maybe microsoft has something written in there to save or restore
that file?? Now I am wondering if I shouldn't use some other method to wipe
the CD first. If that suspicion is correct then I wonder what else they
have being saved from the old system? I'm sure I'm not the only one who is
under the impression that doing a reformat wipes out all existing files.
Click to expand...

I have heard that using WindowsXP cd to partition and format is not too
clever and can get somethings wrong, if you have an old version of windows
that had a boot floppy, then if your hdd is less than 40gb you should be
able to use Fdisk

Tpwuk

<snip>
 
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