Can I move my boot files?

[GateKeeper]

I have Windows installed on a 15GB partition, but the boot files are on
my smaller (4GB) partition. These are the NTDETECT, boot.ini, and ntldr
files. Can I move them safely to the 15GB partition?

Windows calls the larger partition C:, and the smaller one D:, if that
makes any difference.

The boot.ini looks like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=1
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

You would need to make the preferred partition the active one, then boot the
Recovery Console and run fixboot.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[GateKeeper]

How do I make the preferred partition active? Is there a Windows XP
version of FDISK?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Within the GUI, start/run diskmgmt.msc, then right-click the intended
partition to see the options. Make sure you understand fully how to load and
run from the Recovery Console before you do this. I would *strongly* suggest
you make a practice run if you haven't used it before.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP [Q307654]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[GateKeeper]

I did not see the option to make a partition active or inactive.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

The option will not exist on the drive that already is, only on one that
isn't.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

I did not see the option to make a partition active or inactive.

Hi,

Within the GUI, start/run diskmgmt.msc, then right-click the intended
partition to see the options. Make sure you understand fully how to load and
run from the Recovery Console before you do this. I would *strongly* suggest
you make a practice run if you haven't used it before.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP [Q307654]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654

 

[GateKeeper]

Ah yes. I see the option on one of the partitions, but it is greyed out.

You know what? I have decided to give up on this one... I will wait
until next year, and buy a new computer, with a brand new hard drive
(and most likely a new copy of Windows).

That should work.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

If the option is grayed out, then that is already the active partition.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[GateKeeper]

Well, I went ahead and tried to move the active partition using the
Recovery startup option. It didn't work. I ended up having to do a
complete reinstall, and lost all my data. This is what I get for not
backing everything up to removable media before experimenting with my
computer. When will I learn?