deleting multiple instances of XP Pro

[Guest]

I feel foolish admitting to this.
My computer, for some reason, would not boot in safe mode so I could do a
system restore while fighting viruses. In a flash of stupidity, I tried to
reinstall Win XP Pro to help recover a .dll that it said was missing.
Now I have 3 choices of OS when starting/rebooting the computer. 2 of them
are partial installs of Win XP Pro, and one is the full working version. My
husband, who knows nothing about computers (and despite this one brain lapse,
I feel I'm at least literate enough to be dangerous), cannot log on since he
doesn't know to choose which version of the OS to use.
I finally did get the safe mode to work, but I really want the other 2
partial versions of XP off of my computer. How can I do this?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I feel foolish admitting to this.
My computer, for some reason, would not boot in safe mode so I
could do a system restore while fighting viruses. In a flash of
stupidity, I tried to reinstall Win XP Pro to help recover a .dll
that it said was missing.
Now I have 3 choices of OS when starting/rebooting the computer. 2
of them are partial installs of Win XP Pro, and one is the full
working version. My husband, who knows nothing about computers
(and despite this one brain lapse, I feel I'm at least literate
enough to be dangerous), cannot log on since he doesn't know to
choose which version of the OS to use.
I finally did get the safe mode to work, but I really want the
other 2 partial versions of XP off of my computer. How can I do
this?

Google..

Edit boot.ini for Windows XP

 

[buRford]

Google..

Edit boot.ini for Windows XP

This wouldn't remove the 2 partial versions from your computer.
It would only boot to the one you choose to boot to... which would help your husband, but
free up the space (remove the bad versions).
Control Panel... System... Advanced Tab...Startup & Recovery... Then choose the default
OS.
At this point, you can shorten the time the list of OSs is displayed (make it zero if you
don't want to see the list), before it boots to the OS you chose.

As for deleting the bad installs, I'm sure there's a way, but I'm not sure, and don't want
to lead you in the wrong direction

 

[Guest]

Thank you to both of you. I shall try this when I get home this evening.

Google..

Edit boot.ini for Windows XP

This wouldn't remove the 2 partial versions from your computer.
It would only boot to the one you choose to boot to... which would help your husband, but
free up the space (remove the bad versions).
Control Panel... System... Advanced Tab...Startup & Recovery... Then choose the default
OS.
At this point, you can shorten the time the list of OSs is displayed (make it zero if you
don't want to see the list), before it boots to the OS you chose.

As for deleting the bad installs, I'm sure there's a way, but I'm not sure, and don't want
to lead you in the wrong direction

 

[Harry]

An honest suggestion...
Just back up your data
format the entire hard drive and do a clean install of the OS
I suggest using the restore cd that came along with the computer ....
or downloading all the drivers and burning them to a cd before you
begin wiping the hard disk.
also dont forget to back up your favorites and all the software you
need along with printer and scanner drivers.
get some NON Adult supervision.. I meen a teenager who is able to click
his way through a PC... It is usually very helpful.

 

[Michael Stevens]

In

Thank you to both of you. I shall try this when I get home this
evening.

This doesn't exactly address your problem, but will give you an idea of what
files you can remove and what to edit in the boot.ini.

I have two installations of Windows/Windows XP on the same partition.......
#20 on the FAQ list
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#20
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
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