Need to re-do parallel install with Win Me

[vindicataREMOVE]

Hey folks,

I installed Win 2K in parallel with existing Me, uses the Boot Manager to
select between the two, yadda yadda.

Win Me --> C:\WINDOWS
Win 2k --> D:\WIN2K

The 2K install, however, is unusable - either has a virus or trojan that's
thus far undetectable, or the OS itself is munged.

What I want to do, to get it reinstalled:
1) Wipe out D:\WIN2K
2) Edit boot.ini to remove the option to boot to 2K
3) Reinstall 2K as if it was being installed for first time, then
4) Update the bejabers out of it before even thinking about physically
connecting it to my router

The question is, will steps 1-3 above work as I want them to, given that Boot
Manager is already installed? If not, suggested course of action?

Related question: Would installation of Boot Manager during the Win 2K install
have modified my MBR? Norton noticed a change on a full scan, but this was
done after both the 2K install and 2K being infected two or three times.


Thanks in advance,
Pat O'Connell
remove REMOVE in email address to reply via mail, or post a follow-up here

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

See below.

Hey folks,

I installed Win 2K in parallel with existing Me, uses the Boot Manager to
select between the two, yadda yadda.

Win Me --> C:\WINDOWS
Win 2k --> D:\WIN2K

The 2K install, however, is unusable - either has a virus or trojan that's
thus far undetectable, or the OS itself is munged.

What I want to do, to get it reinstalled:
1) Wipe out D:\WIN2K
2) Edit boot.ini to remove the option to boot to 2K
3) Reinstall 2K as if it was being installed for first time, then
4) Update the bejabers out of it before even thinking about physically
connecting it to my router

The question is, will steps 1-3 above work as I want them to, given that Boot
Manager is already installed? If not, suggested course of action?

*** Which "Boot Manager"? There are lots of them! The actual
*** method of re-installation depends very much on which one you use.
*** You can clean up c:\boot.ini at the end of your re-installation.

Related question: Would installation of Boot Manager during the Win 2K install
have modified my MBR? Norton noticed a change on a full scan, but this was
done after both the 2K install and 2K being infected two or three times.

*** All versions of Windows use the same MBR, and each third-party
*** boot manager uses an MBR of its own.

 

[vindicataREMOVE]

See below.




*** Which "Boot Manager"? There are lots of them! The actual
*** method of re-installation depends very much on which one you use.
*** You can clean up c:\boot.ini at the end of your re-installation.

The boot manager installed when Win 2K or Win XP is installed. There's
more than one flavour of that? Perhaps I'm exposing a gap in my knowledge,
here.

So for boot.ini, I'll leave in the "Microsoft Windows 2000" even though it'll
effectively point to nothing, the setup will create a third entry for Windows
2000 Setup as a stopgap between the text-only and graphical stages,
then...might self-regulate? What would I have to clean up?

*** All versions of Windows use the same MBR, and each third-party
*** boot manager uses an MBR of its own.

By MRB I meant master boot record - my understanding, and again this may be
lacking, is that only one MBR exists per PC, and it's on the boot HD. I've
been working with PCs for 15 years and work in tech support, but I've no
certifications.


TIA again,
Pat O'Connell

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

The boot manager installed when Win 2K or Win XP is installed. There's
more than one flavour of that? Perhaps I'm exposing a gap in my knowledge,
here.

So for boot.ini, I'll leave in the "Microsoft Windows 2000" even though it'll
effectively point to nothing, the setup will create a third entry for Windows
2000 Setup as a stopgap between the text-only and graphical stages,
then...might self-regulate? What would I have to clean up?


By MRB I meant master boot record - my understanding, and again this may be
lacking, is that only one MBR exists per PC, and it's on the boot HD. I've
been working with PCs for 15 years and work in tech support, but I've no
certifications.


TIA again,
Pat O'Connell

There are many boot managers around. You are using the native
Win2000/XP boot manager - it is the one that is most often used;
it is also by far the most basic boot manager.

Your new installation of Win2000 will create a new entry in c:\boot.ini.
The old one will remain in there and will point to nothing, as you wrote.
Delete it at any time you like.

Each disk has an MBR When you boot your PC, the BIOS invokes
the small piece of code located in the MBR of your primary master
disk. If the MBR was created by Windows then it will invoke ntldr.
If the MBR was created by another boot loader then it will pass
control to that boot loader.

In your case you do not need to worry about anything. Your
re-installation of Win2000 will ensure that you have the correct
MBR. It will also place the initial boot files (ntldr & ntdect.com)
into the right place. Just go ahead and do it!