Dual boot - how to remove OS

[DavPet]

My machine was crashing so I tried to re-install Win XP Pro.
The machine kept crashing during setup.
I changed out the 256Meg memory stick. Now the original WinXp works fine
BUT
I have two (count 'em 2) choices during boot up, Win XP that works or Win XP
that does not work (the second one is from the setup that would not run and
still won't)

How can I get rid of the second WinXP? I tried to delete the folder but I
can't.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Go to Start > Run and type: MSCONFIG , and hit enter.
Click on the BOOT.INI tab and then click on "Check All Boot Paths"
to delete incorrect boot paths.

If the above does not work for you, then:

Right-click MY COMPUTER and select:

Properties > Advanced > Startup and Recovery Settings > Edit

CAREFULLY edit your boot.ini file to remove the SECOND entry.
Your boot.ini file should then read similar to this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows Professional" /fastdetect


--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------­----------------

:

| My machine was crashing so I tried to re-install Win XP Pro.
| The machine kept crashing during setup.
| I changed out the 256Meg memory stick. Now the original WinXp works fine
| BUT
| I have two (count 'em 2) choices during boot up, Win XP that works or Win XP
| that does not work (the second one is from the setup that would not run and
| still won't)
|
| How can I get rid of the second WinXP? I tried to delete the folder but I
| can't.

 

[Timothy Daniels]

Yeah, and what about his problem of not being able to
delete the folder (presumably named "WINDOWS")
for the 2nd WinXP?

*TimDaniels*

 

[Timothy Daniels]

C'mon, Carey, THINK! That boot.ini file says to get the OS
from the SECOND hard drive in the hard drive boot order,
i.e. "rdisk(1)". It almost *certainly* should be "rdisk(0)", i.e.
the FIRST hard drive in the hard drive boot order. If the OP
edits his boot.ini file oh so CAREFULLY as you describe,
his machine won't boot, and he won't be able to re-edit
the file.

*TimDaniels*

 

[DavPet]

OK, now I am afraid. Please keep this discussion going and help me do it
right.

BTW - the folder names are Windows for the working version and WinXP for the
broken version (it broke during setup and still won't run), and I cannot
delete the folder. There are folders in there marked with DENY EVERYONE
permissions for write.

 

[Timothy Daniels]

OK, now I am afraid. Please keep this discussion going
and help me do it right.

BTW - the folder names are Windows for the working version
and WinXP for the broken version (it broke during setup and
still won't run), and I cannot delete the folder. There are folders
in there marked with DENY EVERYONE permissions for write.

First, tell us how many partitions there are, and if there
are more than one, which ones have the folders "Windows" and
"WinXP". Also, list the contents of the boot.ini file which may be
found at C:\boot.ini in the partition of the OS which runs.

*TimDaniels*