How to Remove a Partial Install of XP Pro?

[Guest]

Built a new PC last week, so far so good. In the midst of a large number of
problems I won't bother you with I at one stage threw up my hands and started
a new install of Windows XP Pro to overwrite the old. However as I was
watching it plod along (having just got to (but not started) the hard disk
partitioning bit), an idea occurred to me on how to solve the problem I was
having. So I halted the install, went back into the installed xp pro and was
sucessful, with that particular problem anyway.

The problem is this: how do I get rid of the partial win xp installation
process?

As things are it is not a major hassle....it appears during bootup as a
choice, but I've set the default to the first sucessful install.
However...it is sucking up some hard disk space, and in particular I don't
want my boys getting curious, choosing it during the bootup, and completing
an overwrite install! Accordingly I would be much happier if it were gone,
but cannot see a method to accomplish this.

Your advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Guest]

One can't just "halt the install" w/o major problems....Try booting to xp cd,
recovery,press 1 for disk C:,press enter for password,then typeiskPart In
DiskPart,delete all partitions,create one,then press ESC key,type:EXIT
Reboot
to xp cd,install xp.

 

[Guest]

Yerrrsss, well, the problem is that I am quite happily now using the first
eventually sucessful install. Your advice sounds like it would wipe
everything on the disk and take me back to square one, which is not what I'm
after....I may have been unclear. If I wanted to do that I would simply
carry on with the partial install....

So, to restate the question, is there any way to get rid of the partial
installation without wrecking the first sucessful installation?

 

[Ron Martell]

Built a new PC last week, so far so good. In the midst of a large number of
problems I won't bother you with I at one stage threw up my hands and started
a new install of Windows XP Pro to overwrite the old. However as I was
watching it plod along (having just got to (but not started) the hard disk
partitioning bit), an idea occurred to me on how to solve the problem I was
having. So I halted the install, went back into the installed xp pro and was
sucessful, with that particular problem anyway.

The problem is this: how do I get rid of the partial win xp installation
process?

As things are it is not a major hassle....it appears during bootup as a
choice, but I've set the default to the first sucessful install.
However...it is sucking up some hard disk space, and in particular I don't
want my boys getting curious, choosing it during the bootup, and completing
an overwrite install! Accordingly I would be much happier if it were gone,
but cannot see a method to accomplish this.

Your advice would be much appreciated.

Use Start - Run - MSCONFIG.
Go to the BOOT,INI tab and click on the "Check all boot paths" button.
That should remove the second entry if it is not a valid install.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Michael Stevens]

In

Yerrrsss, well, the problem is that I am quite happily now using the
first eventually sucessful install. Your advice sounds like it would
wipe everything on the disk and take me back to square one, which is
not what I'm after....I may have been unclear. If I wanted to do
that I would simply carry on with the partial install....

So, to restate the question, is there any way to get rid of the
partial installation without wrecking the first sucessful
installation?

That is Andrew E's mission, to cause data loss to unsuspecting posters.
Never follow his malicious advice.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm

 

[Guest]

That was a very clever suggestion, Ron, thank you, but unfortunately it would
appear I've gone too far along with the partial install for that to
work.....all the boot paths are valid.

I suspect I could delete the boot option line in msconfig and live
relatively happily ever after with the loss of a few gigabytes....what do you
think?

Would still be nice to get rid of the damned thing however

 

[Ron Martell]

That was a very clever suggestion, Ron, thank you, but unfortunately it would
appear I've gone too far along with the partial install for that to
work.....all the boot paths are valid.

I suspect I could delete the boot option line in msconfig and live
relatively happily ever after with the loss of a few gigabytes....what do you
think?

Would still be nice to get rid of the damned thing however

:

In that case the two Windows install must be in different Windows
folders or even on different partitions.

What are the details from Boot.ini for the two versions? The BOOT.INI
tab in MSCONFIG will show you this.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Eric Michael Patterson]

In that case the two Windows install must be in different Windows
folders or even on different partitions.

What are the details from Boot.ini for the two versions? The BOOT.INI
tab in MSCONFIG will show you this.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

From Eric
you would have togo to system information/click hardware/click settings for
system startup then click the default operating system and that should
remove xp pro