HELP IN REMOVING EXTRA COPIES OF WINDOWS XP FROM MY LAPTOP

[HELP NEEDED]

I am using an IBM R52 Notebook which came from IBM with Windows XP
Professional preinstalled. I ran into some big problems and had to have
Staples work on the machine. They were unable to help me and determined that
it was dead. I could not accept that and started to try a bunch of things
like installing a copy of Windows XP Home edition and trying repeatedly to
get the IBM rescue program to reinstall the preinstalled Windows XP
Professional.

The result is that I now have two copies of Windows XP Professional and a
copy of Windows XP Home Edition which show up each time I boot my machine! I
now need to remove the Windows XP Home Edition and one copy of the Windows XP
Professional BUT I can't figure out how to do this. They do not show up on
the Add and Remove section so I can't remove them that way. Clearly I need
some help.

Perhaps there is a genius out there who can help a non-tech type like me.
Obviously these extra OS programs are demanding a large space on my 'C' drive.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I am using an IBM R52 Notebook which came from IBM with Windows XP
Professional preinstalled. I ran into some big problems and had to have
Staples work on the machine. They were unable to help me and determined
that
it was dead. I could not accept that and started to try a bunch of things
like installing a copy of Windows XP Home edition and trying repeatedly to
get the IBM rescue program to reinstall the preinstalled Windows XP
Professional.

The result is that I now have two copies of Windows XP Professional and a
copy of Windows XP Home Edition which show up each time I boot my machine!
I
now need to remove the Windows XP Home Edition and one copy of the Windows
XP
Professional BUT I can't figure out how to do this. They do not show up on
the Add and Remove section so I can't remove them that way. Clearly I need
some help.

Perhaps there is a genius out there who can help a non-tech type like me.
Obviously these extra OS programs are demanding a large space on my 'C'
drive.

Let's start by seeing what's where: Post the contents of the hidden file
c:\boot.ini. You should also do this:
- Boot into the version of Windows you wish to retain.
- Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
- Type this command:
echo %systemroot%{Enter}
- Tell us what you see.

 

[Riyazuddin Sk]

--
Hi

I am using an IBM R52 Notebook which came from IBM with Windows XP
Professional preinstalled. I ran into some big problems and had to have
Staples work on the machine. They were unable to help me and determined that
it was dead. I could not accept that and started to try a bunch of things
like installing a copy of Windows XP Home edition and trying repeatedly to
get the IBM rescue program to reinstall the preinstalled Windows XP
Professional.

The result is that I now have two copies of Windows XP Professional and a
copy of Windows XP Home Edition which show up each time I boot my machine! I
now need to remove the Windows XP Home Edition and one copy of the Windows XP
Professional BUT I can't figure out how to do this. They do not show up on
the Add and Remove section so I can't remove them that way. Clearly I need
some help.

Perhaps there is a genius out there who can help a non-tech type like me.
Obviously these extra OS programs are demanding a large space on my 'C' drive.

Right click on my computer then select properties, from the windows click on
advanced tab

click on settings button under the statup and recovery.

you can configure appropriate configuration changes there.

 

[HELP NEEDED]

--
HELP NEEDED

--
Hi





Right click on my computer then select properties, from the windows click on
advanced tab

click on settings button under the statup and recovery.

you can configure appropriate configuration changes there.

Thanks for that - I followed your instructions and found that I had the
three OS systems - I highligted the two OS that I did not need and it now
shows:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

I have rebooted the notebook and it now starts immediately with Windows XP
Professional which is great.

However, when I click on 'C' drive I only have 247MB of space. I was hoping
that removing the Windows XP Home Edition and spare copy of Windows XP
Professional would free up space on my 'C' drive. Was I barking up the wrong
tree or is there a way to free up that space now that I have removed these
surplus OS programs. I greatly appreciate your help. Thanks

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

--
HELP NEEDED

--
Hi





Right click on my computer then select properties, from the windows click
on
advanced tab

click on settings button under the statup and recovery.

you can configure appropriate configuration changes there.

Thanks for that - I followed your instructions and found that I had the
three OS systems - I highligted the two OS that I did not need and it now
shows:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

I have rebooted the notebook and it now starts immediately with Windows XP
Professional which is great.

However, when I click on 'C' drive I only have 247MB of space. I was
hoping
that removing the Windows XP Home Edition and spare copy of Windows XP
Professional would free up space on my 'C' drive. Was I barking up the
wrong
tree or is there a way to free up that space now that I have removed these
surplus OS programs. I greatly appreciate your help. Thanks

By erasing boot.ini before reporting its contents you have made the clean-up
job harder for youself. It would have told us where the superfluous versions
of Windows were located . . . And what about the %SystemRoot% information I
suggested you obtain?

 

[HELP NEEDED]

--
HELP NEEDED

--
HELP NEEDED

--
Hi


:

I am using an IBM R52 Notebook which came from IBM with Windows XP
Professional preinstalled. I ran into some big problems and had to
have
Staples work on the machine. They were unable to help me and determined
that
it was dead. I could not accept that and started to try a bunch of
things
like installing a copy of Windows XP Home edition and trying repeatedly
to
get the IBM rescue program to reinstall the preinstalled Windows XP
Professional.

The result is that I now have two copies of Windows XP Professional
and a
copy of Windows XP Home Edition which show up each time I boot my
machine! I
now need to remove the Windows XP Home Edition and one copy of the
Windows XP
Professional BUT I can't figure out how to do this. They do not show up
on
the Add and Remove section so I can't remove them that way. Clearly I
need
some help.

Perhaps there is a genius out there who can help a non-tech type like
me.
Obviously these extra OS programs are demanding a large space on my 'C'
drive.


Right click on my computer then select properties, from the windows click
on
advanced tab

click on settings button under the statup and recovery.

you can configure appropriate configuration changes there.

Thanks for that - I followed your instructions and found that I had the
three OS systems - I highligted the two OS that I did not need and it now
shows:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

I have rebooted the notebook and it now starts immediately with Windows XP
Professional which is great.

However, when I click on 'C' drive I only have 247MB of space. I was
hoping
that removing the Windows XP Home Edition and spare copy of Windows XP
Professional would free up space on my 'C' drive. Was I barking up the
wrong
tree or is there a way to free up that space now that I have removed these
surplus OS programs. I greatly appreciate your help. Thanks

By erasing boot.ini before reporting its contents you have made the clean-up
job harder for youself. It would have told us where the superfluous versions
of Windows were located . . . And what about the %SystemRoot% information I
suggested you obtain?


Ooops ... I tried to do that but ran into problems. Perhaps I entered the wrong information ... 'cmd{OK}' could not be found by Windows so obviously I was not doing something important! I now understand that I should have just entered 'cmd' and not 'cmd{OK} ...

I have worked it over again and see the following - does this help at all?

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice>96systemroot96
'96systemroot96' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice>

Is there anyway I can do a clean-up job now? I did a back up to my external
drive the other day would that help? I understand that folk like me must
cause you a great deal of frustration. Please try to work with me I have a
very limited knowledge of this type of thing and your advice and direction is
valuable. Thanks

 

[Terry R.]

The date and time was Monday, February 23, 2009 9:07:01 AM, and on a
whim, HELP NEEDED pounded out on the keyboard:

You can start by removing your sig file in your web client, which causes
a delimiter to be inserted at the TOP of the post. As you can see here,
a good newsreader removes everything below the delimiter (the dash dash
space "-- ") and since your web client put the delimiter at the top,
EVERYTHING was wiped out. Unless of course a defective MS mail client
is used that inserts a delimiter and yet ignores it on replies...

Terry R.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

--
HELP NEEDED

--
HELP NEEDED


:


--
Hi


:

I am using an IBM R52 Notebook which came from IBM with Windows XP
Professional preinstalled. I ran into some big problems and had to
have
Staples work on the machine. They were unable to help me and
determined
that
it was dead. I could not accept that and started to try a bunch of
things
like installing a copy of Windows XP Home edition and trying
repeatedly
to
get the IBM rescue program to reinstall the preinstalled Windows XP
Professional.

The result is that I now have two copies of Windows XP Professional
and a
copy of Windows XP Home Edition which show up each time I boot my
machine! I
now need to remove the Windows XP Home Edition and one copy of the
Windows XP
Professional BUT I can't figure out how to do this. They do not show
up
on
the Add and Remove section so I can't remove them that way. Clearly
I
need
some help.

Perhaps there is a genius out there who can help a non-tech type
like
me.
Obviously these extra OS programs are demanding a large space on my
'C'
drive.


Right click on my computer then select properties, from the windows
click
on
advanced tab

click on settings button under the statup and recovery.

you can configure appropriate configuration changes there.


Thanks for that - I followed your instructions and found that I had the
three OS systems - I highligted the two OS that I did not need and it
now
shows:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP="Microsoft Windows
XP
Professional" /fastdetect

I have rebooted the notebook and it now starts immediately with Windows
XP
Professional which is great.

However, when I click on 'C' drive I only have 247MB of space. I was
hoping
that removing the Windows XP Home Edition and spare copy of Windows XP
Professional would free up space on my 'C' drive. Was I barking up the
wrong
tree or is there a way to free up that space now that I have removed
these
surplus OS programs. I greatly appreciate your help. Thanks

By erasing boot.ini before reporting its contents you have made the
clean-up
job harder for youself. It would have told us where the superfluous
versions
of Windows were located . . . And what about the %SystemRoot% information
I
suggested you obtain?


Ooops ... I tried to do that but ran into problems. Perhaps I entered the
wrong information ... 'cmd{OK}' could not be found by Windows so
obviously I was not doing something important! I now understand that I
should have just entered 'cmd' and not 'cmd{OK} ...

I have worked it over again and see the following - does this help at all?

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice>96systemroot96
'96systemroot96' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice>

Is there anyway I can do a clean-up job now? I did a back up to my
external
drive the other day would that help? I understand that folk like me must
cause you a great deal of frustration. Please try to work with me I have a
very limited knowledge of this type of thing and your advice and direction
is
valuable. Thanks

The command I wanted you to run from the Command Prompt was:

echo %systemroot%{Enter}

You modified this like so:

96systemroot96{Enter}

Two problems:
- You dropped the word "echo".
- You changed the % characters to 96.
Time to get new glasses?

 

[HELP NEEDED]

--
HELP NEEDED

--
HELP NEEDED

--
HELP NEEDED


:


--
Hi


:

I am using an IBM R52 Notebook which came from IBM with Windows XP
Professional preinstalled. I ran into some big problems and had to
have
Staples work on the machine. They were unable to help me and
determined
that
it was dead. I could not accept that and started to try a bunch of
things
like installing a copy of Windows XP Home edition and trying
repeatedly
to
get the IBM rescue program to reinstall the preinstalled Windows XP
Professional.

The result is that I now have two copies of Windows XP Professional
and a
copy of Windows XP Home Edition which show up each time I boot my
machine! I
now need to remove the Windows XP Home Edition and one copy of the
Windows XP
Professional BUT I can't figure out how to do this. They do not show
up
on
the Add and Remove section so I can't remove them that way. Clearly
I
need
some help.

Perhaps there is a genius out there who can help a non-tech type
like
me.
Obviously these extra OS programs are demanding a large space on my
'C'
drive.


Right click on my computer then select properties, from the windows
click
on
advanced tab

click on settings button under the statup and recovery.

you can configure appropriate configuration changes there.


Thanks for that - I followed your instructions and found that I had the
three OS systems - I highligted the two OS that I did not need and it
now
shows:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP="Microsoft Windows
XP
Professional" /fastdetect

I have rebooted the notebook and it now starts immediately with Windows
XP
Professional which is great.

However, when I click on 'C' drive I only have 247MB of space. I was
hoping
that removing the Windows XP Home Edition and spare copy of Windows XP
Professional would free up space on my 'C' drive. Was I barking up the
wrong
tree or is there a way to free up that space now that I have removed
these
surplus OS programs. I greatly appreciate your help. Thanks

By erasing boot.ini before reporting its contents you have made the
clean-up
job harder for youself. It would have told us where the superfluous
versions
of Windows were located . . . And what about the %SystemRoot% information
I
suggested you obtain?


Ooops ... I tried to do that but ran into problems. Perhaps I entered the
wrong information ... 'cmd{OK}' could not be found by Windows so
obviously I was not doing something important! I now understand that I
should have just entered 'cmd' and not 'cmd{OK} ...

I have worked it over again and see the following - does this help at all?

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice>96systemroot96
'96systemroot96' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice>

Is there anyway I can do a clean-up job now? I did a back up to my
external
drive the other day would that help? I understand that folk like me must
cause you a great deal of frustration. Please try to work with me I have a
very limited knowledge of this type of thing and your advice and direction
is
valuable. Thanks

The command I wanted you to run from the Command Prompt was:

echo %systemroot%{Enter}

You modified this like so:

96systemroot96{Enter}

Two problems:
- You dropped the word "echo".
- You changed the % characters to 96.
Time to get new glasses?

This is what I get -

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice> echo %systemroot%
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice>

I hope this is what you are wanting - you are right I do need new glasses!
Thanks for the reminder.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

This is what I get -

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice> echo %systemroot%
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice>

I hope this is what you are wanting - you are right I do need new glasses!
Thanks for the reminder.

This is getting a little messy. By default, Windows is always installed in
some "root" folder, e.g. in
c:\Windows
c:\WinNT
c:\NewWindows

In your case it is
c:\Windows\NewSetup

This suggests that you have interwoven Windows folders from your various
installation attempts. Not nice . . . Let's try and find out where the
various copies are. Please do this:
- Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
- Type the following commands:
dir /b /s C:\hh.exe > c:\test.txt{Enter}
and, if you have a drive "D:" -
dir /b /s D:\hh.exe >> c:\test.txt{Enter}
and this one -
notepad c:\test.txt{Enter}
- Mark, copy & paste the notepad text into your reply.
Be careful to type the commands exactly as I spell them!

 

[HELP NEEDED]

--
HELP NEEDED

This is what I get -

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice> echo %systemroot%
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice>

I hope this is what you are wanting - you are right I do need new glasses!
Thanks for the reminder.

This is getting a little messy. By default, Windows is always installed in
some "root" folder, e.g. in
c:\Windows
c:\WinNT
c:\NewWindows

In your case it is
c:\Windows\NewSetup

This suggests that you have interwoven Windows folders from your various
installation attempts. Not nice . . . Let's try and find out where the
various copies are. Please do this:
- Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
- Type the following commands:
dir /b /s C:\hh.exe > c:\test.txt{Enter}
and, if you have a drive "D:" -
dir /b /s D:\hh.exe >> c:\test.txt{Enter}
and this one -
notepad c:\test.txt{Enter}
- Mark, copy & paste the notepad text into your reply.
Be careful to type the commands exactly as I spell them!

I did my best. This is what I have:

C:\WINDOWS\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\$xpsp1hfm$\Q811630\hh.ex
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\SoftwareDistribution\Download\16b2c96a0c41f4dfdb4d3cc228a4f819\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\system32\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\system32\dllcache\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\hh.exe
D:\WINDOWS\hh.exe

By the way My Computer has the following Hard Disk Drives

Local Disk (C)
Local Disk (D) External
IBM Preload (E)

Thanks

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

--
HELP NEEDED

This is what I get -

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice> echo %systemroot%
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice>

I hope this is what you are wanting - you are right I do need new
glasses!
Thanks for the reminder.

This is getting a little messy. By default, Windows is always installed
in
some "root" folder, e.g. in
c:\Windows
c:\WinNT
c:\NewWindows

In your case it is
c:\Windows\NewSetup

This suggests that you have interwoven Windows folders from your various
installation attempts. Not nice . . . Let's try and find out where the
various copies are. Please do this:
- Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
- Type the following commands:
dir /b /s C:\hh.exe > c:\test.txt{Enter}
and, if you have a drive "D:" -
dir /b /s D:\hh.exe >> c:\test.txt{Enter}
and this one -
notepad c:\test.txt{Enter}
- Mark, copy & paste the notepad text into your reply.
Be careful to type the commands exactly as I spell them!

I did my best. This is what I have:

C:\WINDOWS\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\$xpsp1hfm$\Q811630\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\SoftwareDistribution\Download\16b2c96a0c41f4dfdb4d3cc228a4f819\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\system32\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\system32\dllcache\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\hh.exe
D:\WINDOWS\hh.exe

By the way My Computer has the following Hard Disk Drives

Local Disk (C)
Local Disk (D) External
IBM Preload (E)

Thanks

It is as I expected:
- Original installation: C:\Windows
- Current installation: C:\Windows\NewSetup
- Additional installation: D:\Windows

Since drive D: is on an external disk, I'm puzzled as to why you're keeping
a copy of the Windows folder there. Can you boot the machine without this
external disk? If so then I would do this:
- Rename D:\Windows to D:\Windows.bad
- Wait a week.
- If all is well, delete D:\Windows.bad

Things are a little more involved with your nested installation on drive C:.
I would do this:
- Create a folder C:\Windows.old
- Using Explorer, drag every file and folder from c:\Windows into
c:\Windows.old, EXCEPT FOR C:\Windows\NewSetup.
- Wait two weeks.
- If all is well, delete C:\Windows.old

You will have to empty your Recycle Bin in order to regain your disk space.

 

[Unknown]

The IBM preload is almost always drive C. How did yours get to be Drive E?

--
HELP NEEDED

This is what I get -

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice> echo %systemroot%
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice>

I hope this is what you are wanting - you are right I do need new
glasses!
Thanks for the reminder.

This is getting a little messy. By default, Windows is always installed
in
some "root" folder, e.g. in
c:\Windows
c:\WinNT
c:\NewWindows

In your case it is
c:\Windows\NewSetup

This suggests that you have interwoven Windows folders from your various
installation attempts. Not nice . . . Let's try and find out where the
various copies are. Please do this:
- Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
- Type the following commands:
dir /b /s C:\hh.exe > c:\test.txt{Enter}
and, if you have a drive "D:" -
dir /b /s D:\hh.exe >> c:\test.txt{Enter}
and this one -
notepad c:\test.txt{Enter}
- Mark, copy & paste the notepad text into your reply.
Be careful to type the commands exactly as I spell them!

I did my best. This is what I have:

C:\WINDOWS\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\$xpsp1hfm$\Q811630\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\SoftwareDistribution\Download\16b2c96a0c41f4dfdb4d3cc228a4f819\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\system32\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\system32\dllcache\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\hh.exe
D:\WINDOWS\hh.exe

By the way My Computer has the following Hard Disk Drives

Local Disk (C)
Local Disk (D) External
IBM Preload (E)

Thanks

 

[HELP NEEDED]

--
HELP NEEDED

--
HELP NEEDED

This is what I get -

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice> echo %systemroot%
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP

C:\Documents and Settings\Maurice>

I hope this is what you are wanting - you are right I do need new
glasses!
Thanks for the reminder.

This is getting a little messy. By default, Windows is always installed
in
some "root" folder, e.g. in
c:\Windows
c:\WinNT
c:\NewWindows

In your case it is
c:\Windows\NewSetup

This suggests that you have interwoven Windows folders from your various
installation attempts. Not nice . . . Let's try and find out where the
various copies are. Please do this:
- Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
- Type the following commands:
dir /b /s C:\hh.exe > c:\test.txt{Enter}
and, if you have a drive "D:" -
dir /b /s D:\hh.exe >> c:\test.txt{Enter}
and this one -
notepad c:\test.txt{Enter}
- Mark, copy & paste the notepad text into your reply.
Be careful to type the commands exactly as I spell them!

I did my best. This is what I have:

C:\WINDOWS\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\$xpsp1hfm$\Q811630\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\SoftwareDistribution\Download\16b2c96a0c41f4dfdb4d3cc228a4f819\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\system32\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\NEWSETUP\system32\dllcache\hh.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache\hh.exe
D:\WINDOWS\hh.exe

By the way My Computer has the following Hard Disk Drives

Local Disk (C)
Local Disk (D) External
IBM Preload (E)

Thanks

It is as I expected:
- Original installation: C:\Windows
- Current installation: C:\Windows\NewSetup
- Additional installation: D:\Windows

Since drive D: is on an external disk, I'm puzzled as to why you're keeping
a copy of the Windows folder there. Can you boot the machine without this
external disk? If so then I would do this:
- Rename D:\Windows to D:\Windows.bad
- Wait a week.
- If all is well, delete D:\Windows.bad

Things are a little more involved with your nested installation on drive C:.
I would do this:
- Create a folder C:\Windows.old
- Using Explorer, drag every file and folder from c:\Windows into
c:\Windows.old, EXCEPT FOR C:\Windows\NewSetup.
- Wait two weeks.
- If all is well, delete C:\Windows.old

You will have to empty your Recycle Bin in order to regain your disk space.

FIRST ... many thanks for your help. I am most appreciative.

1. I am able to boot the notebook without the external disk connected. I
have therefore renamed the Windows folderto Windows.bad and have noted that I
can delete it in a week's time.
2. I have created the Windows.old folder in 'C' drive and dragged everything
EXCEPT the Windows\NewSetUp folder into it. I will delete Windows.old in two
weeks time.
3. I shall be sure to empty the Recycle Bin!

Again - many thanks for your fantastic patience and help.

Help Needed (as you can see I do live up to my name!)

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

FIRST ... many thanks for your help. I am most appreciative.

1. I am able to boot the notebook without the external disk connected. I
have therefore renamed the Windows folderto Windows.bad and have noted
that I
can delete it in a week's time.
2. I have created the Windows.old folder in 'C' drive and dragged
everything
EXCEPT the Windows\NewSetUp folder into it. I will delete Windows.old in
two
weeks time.
3. I shall be sure to empty the Recycle Bin!

Again - many thanks for your fantastic patience and help.

Help Needed (as you can see I do live up to my name!)

Thanks for the feedback.