Paritioning/Formatting problems.. please help

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  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Hi

I recently formatted my hard drive and attempted to reinstall windows XP
professional from scratch. I partitioned the disc into half, and then
installed windows on the C drive partition. Then, somehow, I accidentally
installed it again on the second partition (F in this case). There were now
two copies of windows installed, and when I restarted the computer it asked
me which one to use. I chose the version on C, and formatted the F drive.
However, my computer still "thinks" that there are two copies of windows
installed, and asks me to select the correct one when I start up. Is there
any way to fix this, and ensure that it always uses the correct copy
automatically?

Thanks in advance,
Pranav ( praverma (takethisout) @gmail.com)
 
Start, Run, C:\boot.ini
Remove the line under operating systems is for the F XP.

or
Click Check all boot paths in MSCONFIG, Boot.Ini
--
Ron Sommer


: Hi
:
: I recently formatted my hard drive and attempted to reinstall windows XP
: professional from scratch. I partitioned the disc into half, and then
: installed windows on the C drive partition. Then, somehow, I accidentally
: installed it again on the second partition (F in this case). There were
now
: two copies of windows installed, and when I restarted the computer it
asked
: me which one to use. I chose the version on C, and formatted the F drive.
: However, my computer still "thinks" that there are two copies of windows
: installed, and asks me to select the correct one when I start up. Is there
: any way to fix this, and ensure that it always uses the correct copy
: automatically?
:
: Thanks in advance,
: Pranav ( praverma (takethisout) @gmail.com)
 
You need to edit boot.ini file. Open My Computer. In the address bar Type
"C:\Boot.ini" without quotes and press enter.
It should be:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

Or you can See Microsoft site about this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289022/
 
pranav said:
Hi

I recently formatted my hard drive and attempted to reinstall windows XP
professional from scratch. I partitioned the disc into half, and then
installed windows on the C drive partition. Then, somehow, I accidentally
installed it again on the second partition (F in this case). There were
now two copies of windows installed, and when I restarted the computer it
asked me which one to use. I chose the version on C, and formatted the F
drive. However, my computer still "thinks" that there are two copies of
windows installed, and asks me to select the correct one when I start up.
Is there any way to fix this, and ensure that it always uses the correct
copy automatically?
Click to expand...

First try: Start>Run>msconfig [enter]

This brings up the System Configuration Utility. Look on the Boot.ini tab.
You'll see a button that says "check all boot paths" (language might be
different since I'm not on Windows right now but it will be obvious). Do
this and see if that fixes the issue. Note: usually after you use the
System Configuration Utility, you'll get a box asking for a restart. You
don't need to restart immediately, but the next time you do you'll get a
dialog saying you've used the Utility. Just tick the box that says in
effect, "don't bother me about this again".

If checking the boot paths automatically doesn't do it, you'll need to edit
boot.ini yourself. Make sure you can see hidden files. Boot.ini will be at
the root of C:\. Open it in Notepad and carefully delete the entry for the
non-existent second operating system. Save and close.

To see all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options) In XP,
there are four checkboxes to deal with:

a. Check "Display the contents of system folders".
b. Check "Show hidden files and folders".
c. Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".
d. Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files" and click "OK" to the
dialog box.

Malke
 
pranav said:
Hi

I recently formatted my hard drive and attempted to reinstall windows XP
professional from scratch. I partitioned the disc into half, and then
installed windows on the C drive partition. Then, somehow, I accidentally
installed it again on the second partition (F in this case). There were now
two copies of windows installed, and when I restarted the computer it asked
me which one to use. I chose the version on C, and formatted the F drive.
However, my computer still "thinks" that there are two copies of windows
installed, and asks me to select the correct one when I start up. Is there
any way to fix this, and ensure that it always uses the correct copy
automatically?

Thanks in advance,
Pranav ( praverma (takethisout) @gmail.com)
Click to expand...


You can use MSConfig to repair C:\Boot.ini and eliminate the dual-boot
start-up option menu. From within WinXP, Start > Run > Msconfig,
Boot.ini Tab > "Check all Boot Paths."

To perform the same repair manually:

1) Click Start > Run, Type "Cmd" and then press <Enter>.

2) Type "Cd\" and then press <Enter>

3) Type "Attrib C:\Boot.ini -h -r -s" and then press <Enter>

4) Click Start > Run, Type "Notepad c:\boot.ini" and then press <Enter>

5) Edit the file to removed the extraneous line, save it, and then exit
Notepad.

6) Type "Attrib C:\Boot.ini +h +r +s" and then press <Enter>

7) Close the command console.



--

Bruce Chambers

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