Remove BootUp Option

[GoldHawk]

I hope I have directed myself to the correct newsgroup.

I am running WinXP Pro with SP3 on a desktop machine with dual hard discs,
of 20GB & 80GB.These are set respectively as the master and slave discs.
These are separate discs, not partitions on the same disc. The 20GB disc has
been installed with the OS while the larger 80GB disc has stored “My
Documentsâ€.

I recently re-formatted C:\ (20GB) and re-installed XP. The system somehow
got infected with a browser highjack virus. Also, I wasn’t able to install
SP3. I was able to remove the virus and decided to repeat the OS install
process. On this occasion, however, instead of giving me the option of
deleting, re-partitioning and re-formatting C:\, XP installed on the D:\
(80GB) drive.

On the boot up screen, I was then given an option of the 2 versions of
Windows XP Professional, selected by use of the up / down arrows, which
directed to the different OS installed on either C:\ or D:\.

I have at last been able to delete all the files on D:\ and re-format, but
am still trying to re-install XP (correctly) in a clean partition on C:\.
However, despite re-formatting the D:\ drive (and even disconnecting the
drive power lead) the boot screen still shows the dual OS option.

I have accessed the BIOS but there is nothing obvious to me there where I
can make some setting changes to correct the position.

My (simple ?) question is whether anyone can help with how I can remove the
(now defunct) option on the boot screen to the (deleted) OS on drive D:\.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[sgopus]

you can open your boot.ini file with a text editor and remove references to
the non existing operating system.
and or use msconfig select the boot.ini tab and check valid boot paths, it
will search for all installed operating systems what it doesn't validate it
removes from the boot menu.

ie start run type in msconfig

 

[Anna]

I hope I have directed myself to the correct newsgroup.

I am running WinXP Pro with SP3 on a desktop machine with dual hard discs,
of 20GB & 80GB.These are set respectively as the master and slave discs.
These are separate discs, not partitions on the same disc. The 20GB disc
has
been installed with the OS while the larger 80GB disc has stored "My
Documents".

I recently re-formatted C:\ (20GB) and re-installed XP. The system somehow
got infected with a browser highjack virus. Also, I wasn't able to install
SP3. I was able to remove the virus and decided to repeat the OS install
process. On this occasion, however, instead of giving me the option of
deleting, re-partitioning and re-formatting C:\, XP installed on the D:\
(80GB) drive.

On the boot up screen, I was then given an option of the 2 versions of
Windows XP Professional, selected by use of the up / down arrows, which
directed to the different OS installed on either C:\ or D:\.

I have at last been able to delete all the files on D:\ and re-format, but
am still trying to re-install XP (correctly) in a clean partition on C:\.
However, despite re-formatting the D:\ drive (and even disconnecting the
drive power lead) the boot screen still shows the dual OS option.

I have accessed the BIOS but there is nothing obvious to me there where I
can make some setting changes to correct the position.

My (simple ?) question is whether anyone can help with how I can remove
the
(now defunct) option on the boot screen to the (deleted) OS on drive D:\.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

GoldHawk:
Just to make it clear...

First of all, you're reasonably sure *both* HDDs are non-defective. Think it
might be wise to check them out with the HDD diagnostic utility usually
freely available from the disks' manufacturer(s)?

1. Your 80 GB HDD has been formatted so that there's no data - absolutely no
data - on that disk, right? You're absolutely sure of that, yes?

2. So now you're attempting a fresh-install of the XP OS onto your 20 GB
HDD, right? And you've wisely disconnected the 80 GB HDD from the system
during this attempt, right?

3. So now you have your 20 GB HDD installed as Primary Master. And you've
checked to ensure it's been correctly configured (jumpered).

During the OS setup process you'll be given the opportunity to delete the
existing partition on that drive. Do so, partition & format the drive and
install the OS onto that partition.

Presumably the install process will complete without error messages or other
glitches and the system should boot straightaway with only that 20 GB HDD
installed. After which, install the 80 GB HDD and partition/format that
drive through Disk Management which we assume you know how to do.
Anna

 

[GoldHawk]

sgopus

This is brilliant. Thank you so much.

Sorted it in seconds whereas I'd been scratching my head for a solution for
hours. I'm aware of the msconfig utility and have used it a few times for
diagnostic purposes but I'm not really familiar or comfortable with some of
the other services, like the boot.ini.

I've still got the problem of properly formatting my 80GB D:\ drive and
re-installing XP on C:\, which Anna has commented on, but I will reply to her
separately. However, that's one issue solved.

With huge thanks.

Mike

 

[GoldHawk]

Anna

Many thanks for your reply.

Although I haven't (yet) tested with the manufacturers' HDD diagnostic
utility, I'm pretty sure neither disc is faulty. Both are shown as "healthy"
in Computer Management.

1. I formatted the 80GB HDD (D:\) using the option on the right click menu.
Although this seemed clear of files in Explorer (with "show all hidden and
system files" ticked) I suspected there was still some data left after
formatting. Computer Management confirms there is only 99% free. D:\
Properties shows there is 83MB still in use.

2. Yes, I want to put a fresh install of XP back on the 20GB HDD (C:\) and
copy back My Documents on to a "clean" 80GB HDD (D:\).

To deal with the redundant boot up option solved by sgopus, I've now
re-connected the 80GB HDD, but can easily disconnect, again.

3. Yes, the 20GB HDD (C:\) is installed as the Primary Master. I'm sure
that's right because that's the way I had them fitted (adding the 80GB HDD)
and error message I got when I disconnected the wrong HDD as part of this
exercise! I can see the jumpers on both but I can't remember now the
different ways they are fitted for Primary & Slave.

The 20GB HDD has a jumper on the far left set of (4) double pins. The 80GB
HDD has a jumper on the next to far right set of (5) double pins.

One of the problems I have had is that when trying to re-install XP on the
20GB HDD the install disc doesn't always give me the option to delete /
partition / format (which is what I want to do). The install wizard simply
re-installs over the top of the existing OS. I have noticed that the only
time it gave me the option to delete the partition etc, was when I had a
newer version already installed on my C:\drive than was on my install disc.
However, as SP3 won't install on my system as it is, I'm having to update
with the numerous individual updates (120 at the last count) which I assume
are incorporated into SP3, to get me into a position where I can repeat and
hopefully get the option to delete the partition etc.

I hope that makes some sort of sense. I'm just trying to repeat the
conditions that I remember worked before.

I take your advice about disconnecting the 80GB HDD (D:\) before trying all
of this.

I am aware of but not very familiar with Disk Management. I've looked at
this now and seen the options to partition / format which I feel confident
enough to handle.

If you have any further comments or suggestions, I would be very happy to
receive them, but in any event, I'm most grateful for you interest and help
so far in pointing me in the right direction.

Kind regards.

Mike (UK)

 

[GoldHawk]

Anna

Since my last post I've tried again to re-install XP from the install disc,
after disconnecting the 80GB HDD (D:\). From the install wizard I downloaded
the latest setup files. After re-boot (during install) I had the option to
delete the C:\ partition. However, after selecting "D", I had the message:

"Set up is unable to perform the requested operation on the selected
partition. This partition contains temporary set-up files that are required
to complete the installation."

I assume these were the setup files I had just downloaded. I quit the
installation.

I'm going around in circles and getting nowhere, fast !

I realise I may now be in the wrong forum as I doubt this is hardware
related. However, any guidance you can give me (or direct me to a more
appropriate forum) would be much appreciated.

I am wondering if a way around this is to use Disk Management to delete and
re-partition the 20GB HDD (C:\) and then boot from the install disc to
install the OS. However, I don't want to make things worse and would grateful
for any advice before I take this potentially drastic step.

I should add that despite all the updates I have installed (not including
SP3) I didn't get any message during install set up, that my existing system
was newer than the install.

Regards.

Mike (UK)

 

[GoldHawk]

Further thoughts on this.

I don't suppose I can delete the 20GB HDD (C:\) partition using Disk
Management while that's still holding the OS from which I'm working.
I would have to format the 80GB HDD (D:\) and install XP there to format
C:\; then reinstall XP on C:\; and from there re-format D:\. That would mean
disconnecting power to the HDD I didn't want to use at the time, connecting
the other up as primary and changing the jumpers, as required. This seems a
very long way around.

I thought about using a large capacity memory stick instead of the 80GB HDD
(D:\) to install XP, but my BIOS doesn't give the option to boot from USB. I
do have a floppy (A:\) drive fitted, though.

I have thought about a boot disc, but I confess I don't know much about
that. My components and OS have all changed since I bought the machine so I
don't have a boot disc from the original manufacturer, that would work.
Effectively, I only have the desktop casing (and the 20GB HDD) left from the
original machine.

I'm a bit in unknown and unchartered territory here.........

Again, any thoughts from anyone would be gratefully received.

Regards.

Mike

 

[Anna]

GoldHawk:
Just to make it clear...

First of all, you're reasonably sure *both* HDDs are non-defective. Think
it might be wise to check them out with the HDD diagnostic utility usually
freely available from the disks' manufacturer(s)?

1. Your 80 GB HDD has been formatted so that there's no data - absolutely
no data - on that disk, right? You're absolutely sure of that, yes?

2. So now you're attempting a fresh-install of the XP OS onto your 20 GB
HDD, right? And you've wisely disconnected the 80 GB HDD from the system
during this attempt, right?

3. So now you have your 20 GB HDD installed as Primary Master. And you've
checked to ensure it's been correctly configured (jumpered).

During the OS setup process you'll be given the opportunity to delete the
existing partition on that drive. Do so, partition & format the drive and
install the OS onto that partition.

Presumably the install process will complete without error messages or
other glitches and the system should boot straightaway with only that 20
GB HDD installed. After which, install the 80 GB HDD and partition/format
that drive through Disk Management which we assume you know how to do.
Anna

Anna

Many thanks for your reply.

Although I haven't (yet) tested with the manufacturers' HDD diagnostic
utility, I'm pretty sure neither disc is faulty. Both are shown as
"healthy" in Computer Management.
1. I formatted the 80GB HDD (D:\) using the option on the right click
menu. Although this seemed clear of files in Explorer (with "show all
hidden and system files" ticked) I suspected there was still some data
left after formatting. Computer Management confirms there is only 99%
free. D:\ Properties shows there is 83MB still in use.

2. Yes, I want to put a fresh install of XP back on the 20GB HDD (C:\) and
copy back My Documents on to a "clean" 80GB HDD (D:\).

To deal with the redundant boot up option solved by sgopus, I've now
re-connected the 80GB HDD, but can easily disconnect, again.

3. Yes, the 20GB HDD (C:\) is installed as the Primary Master. I'm sure
that's right because that's the way I had them fitted (adding the 80GB
HDD) and error message I got when I disconnected the wrong HDD as part of
this exercise! I can see the jumpers on both but I can't remember now the
different ways they are fitted for Primary & Slave.
The 20GB HDD has a jumper on the far left set of (4) double pins. The 80GB
HDD has a jumper on the next to far right set of (5) double pins.

One of the problems I have had is that when trying to re-install XP on the
20GB HDD the install disc doesn't always give me the option to delete /
partition / format (which is what I want to do). The install wizard simply
re-installs over the top of the existing OS. I have noticed that the only
time it gave me the option to delete the partition etc, was when I had a
newer version already installed on my C:\drive than was on my install
disc. However, as SP3 won't install on my system as it is, I'm having to
update with the numerous individual updates (120 at the last count) which
I assume are incorporated into SP3, to get me into a position where I can
repeat and hopefully get the option to delete the partition etc.
I hope that makes some sort of sense. I'm just trying to repeat the
conditions that I remember worked before.

I take your advice about disconnecting the 80GB HDD (D:\) before trying
all of this.

I am aware of but not very familiar with Disk Management. I've looked at
this now and seen the options to partition / format which I feel confident
enough to handle.

If you have any further comments or suggestions, I would be very happy to
receive them, but in any event, I'm most grateful for you interest and
help so far in pointing me in the right direction.

Kind regards.

Mike (UK)

Anna

Since my last post I've tried again to re-install XP from the install
disc, after disconnecting the 80GB HDD (D:\). From the install wizard I
downloaded the latest setup files. After re-boot (during install) I had
the option to delete the C:\ partition. However, after selecting "D", I
had the message:

"Set up is unable to perform the requested operation on the selected
partition. This partition contains temporary set-up files that are
required to complete the installation."

I assume these were the setup files I had just downloaded. I quit the
installation.

I'm going around in circles and getting nowhere, fast !

I realise I may now be in the wrong forum as I doubt this is hardware
related. However, any guidance you can give me (or direct me to a more
appropriate forum) would be much appreciated.

I am wondering if a way around this is to use Disk Management to delete
and re-partition the 20GB HDD (C:\) and then boot from the install disc to
install the OS. However, I don't want to make things worse and would
grateful for any advice before I take this potentially drastic step.

I should add that despite all the updates I have installed (not including
SP3) I didn't get any message during install set up, that my existing
system was newer than the install.

Regards.

Mike (UK)

Further thoughts on this.

I don't suppose I can delete the 20GB HDD (C:\) partition using Disk
Management while that's still holding the OS from which I'm working. I
would have to format the 80GB HDD (D:\) and install XP there to format
C:\; then reinstall XP on C:\; and from there re-format D:\. That would
mean disconnecting power to the HDD I didn't want to use at the time,
connecting the other up as primary and changing the jumpers, as required.
This seems a very long way around.

I thought about using a large capacity memory stick instead of the 80GB
HDD (D:\) to install XP, but my BIOS doesn't give the option to boot from
USB. I do have a floppy (A:\) drive fitted, though.

I have thought about a boot disc, but I confess I don't know much about
that. My components and OS have all changed since I bought the machine so
I don't have a boot disc from the original manufacturer, that would work.
Effectively, I only have the desktop casing (and the 20GB HDD) left from
the original machine.

I'm a bit in unknown and unchartered territory here.........

Again, any thoughts from anyone would be gratefully received.

Regards.

Mike

Mike:
Let's take this from the very beginning and treat this situation in a basic
fundamental way.

First of all, forget about your 80 GB HDD (at least for the moment); forget
about modifying the boot.ini file or any other file; forget about invoking
"exotic" processes to accomplish your objective.

What you want to do is focus solely on your 20 GB HDD, the drive onto which
you want to fresh install the XP OS, right?

We're assuming (as we have from the beginning) that this 20 GB HDD is
non-defective. The fact that the drive was shown as "Healthy" (along with
your 80 GB HDD) in Disk Management is of no consequence. In view of the
problems you've been experiencing you *must* check out (at least) the 20 GB
HDD with the HDD diagnostic utility previously referred to. I believe you
indicated you were intending to do so but I'm uncertain if indeed you have.
Please...check out the 20 GB HDD and do the same for the 80 GB HDD while
you're at it. OK?

Now for the purposes of this discussion we'll assume the 20 GB HDD is
non-defective. (Needless to say "all bets are off" if you're dealing with a
defective disk).

I'm assuming you have a "normal" XP OS installation CD, right? It's not an
OEM "recovery" or "restore" disk, right?

Taking it step-by-step...
1. Setting aside the 80 GB HDD and any other storage devices connected to
your PC; with *only* the 20 GB HDD is installed in your system.

2. That 20 GB HDD will be connected to the Primary IDE channel as Primary
Master. I'm assuming that you've correctly jumpered the HDD as PM. There
should be a diagram/label on the drive indicating jumper positions. In any
event check with the manufacturer's website for info on this should you have
any trouble discerning the proper jumper configuration. Ensure that both
your power & data cables are properly connected. If you have a spare data
cable handy, use that instead of the one that had been connected.

3. You then power-up the machine, insert the XP OS installation CD, and boot
to the latter. I assume you know how to do this.

After pressing Enter at the "Welcome to Setup" screen and accepting the
License Agreement, the next screen will list the existing partition(s) and
any unallocated disk space on the disk.

There should appear an option on that screen to press "D" to delete any
partition selected (highlighted) that's listed.

Now you've indicated that you've run into a problem here involving that
there's no option to delete any existing partition. So I'm going to stop
here until you respond and clarify this situation. Again, I'm assuming that
the XP OS installation CD you're working with is either a "full" retail
version or a non-branded OEM version that you (or someone) previously has
used to install the OS. And that it's not an OEM-branded type of restore or
recovery disk.
Anna

 

[GoldHawk]

Anna

Yes, this is a "full" retail XP disc.

Before I go any further I should offer a huge apology for wasting your time
as I have made a rather fundamental and foolish mistake. The reason for my
problem is that I have been trying to boot up the disc from inside Windows,
rather than from CD on start up (although this must have worked on at least
one previous occassion).

I know better than this and can only think I have been distracted by other
(PC) problems, some of which I haven't mentioned but have been trying to sort
at the same time.

I've now started things the PROPER way and everything seems to be going
fine, so far. I've managed to delete and re-partition etc.

Again, I'm really sorry. I'm rather embarrassed. Thank you very much anyway
for your interest and help. If nothing else, I've learnt something from these
posts !

Regards.

Mike

 

[GoldHawk]

Anna

One final question if I may, more out of interest than anything else.

My 20GB HDD showed 2 partitions, including a small 8MB partition. I have
re-partitioned and formatted the large size only but I was wondering what was
on the 8MB, and whether I could have deleted this a well to make a large(r)
partition, and what would have happened, if I had. I suspect this is a
remnant from the original installation of WinME.

Regards.

Mike

 

[Anna]

Anna

One final question if I may, more out of interest than anything else.

My 20GB HDD showed 2 partitions, including a small 8MB partition. I have
re-partitioned and formatted the large size only but I was wondering what
was
on the 8MB, and whether I could have deleted this a well to make a
large(r)
partition, and what would have happened, if I had. I suspect this is a
remnant from the original installation of WinME.

Regards.

Mike

Mike:
Your suspicions are correct - it's "left-over" from the Win9x/Me days. Since
it's only a tiny amount of disk space you can leave it be. Ordinarily when
we fresh-install XP on a disk that contains that partition, we delete it
since it's simple enough to do during setup. But there's no harm in its
existence on your present HDD - your XP OS should work just fine.
Anna

 

[GoldHawk]

Thank you Anna.

Mike:
Your suspicions are correct - it's "left-over" from the Win9x/Me days. Since
it's only a tiny amount of disk space you can leave it be. Ordinarily when
we fresh-install XP on a disk that contains that partition, we delete it
since it's simple enough to do during setup. But there's no harm in its
existence on your present HDD - your XP OS should work just fine.
Anna

 

[GoldHawk]

Anna

XP successfully installed !

Using Disk Management I have formatted the 80GB HDD (D:\) and converted to a
Dynamic Volume / Disk. There was no option to make a partition. As I read the
help pages, this cannot now be converted to a partition but I'm not sure if a
Dynamic Volume is better/worse (in the sense that it's more or less
versatile) or just different to a Partition.

Regards

Mike

 

[deejaydee]

Edit the ini file boot startup there you will see options to start
delete what you don't need.
at this very moment i am on windows 7 , i have my own problems
deejaydee

 

[Anna]

Anna

XP successfully installed !

Using Disk Management I have formatted the 80GB HDD (D:\) and converted to
a
Dynamic Volume / Disk. There was no option to make a partition. As I read
the
help pages, this cannot now be converted to a partition but I'm not sure
if a
Dynamic Volume is better/worse (in the sense that it's more or less
versatile) or just different to a Partition.

Regards

Mike

Mike:
I would strongly suggest that your secondary 80 GB HDD be created as a
Basic, *not* a dynamic disk.

You might want to take a look at the following...
Basic Storage Versus Dynamic Storage in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314343, and,

this MS TechNet article which contains very detailed information re this
issue...
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457110.aspx#EEAA

While there are situations where a HDD should be created as a "dynamic"
disk, it's
a relatively rare situation for most users where this is necessary except in
some RAID configurations. Since I take it you're going to use that secondary
HDD simply as a repository for data (backups & such), there's really no
point in creating it as a dynamic disk.

In Disk Management, simply right-click on the drive (the area where the disk
is shown as "Dynamic") and select the "Convert to Basic Disk" from the
sub-menu that opens. Understand that when you do this, all data on the disk
will be lost - the data will be destroyed. (I'm assuming you have no current
data on that disk, or if you do you can save it to your primary HDD or to
some removable media). The disk will then be reflected as "Unallocated" and
you can again go ahead with partitioning/formatting it in Disk Management,
but ensuring that it's created as a "basic" disk.
Anna

 

[GoldHawk]

Very helpful Anna. Thank you.

Mike

Mike:
I would strongly suggest that your secondary 80 GB HDD be created as a
Basic, *not* a dynamic disk.

You might want to take a look at the following...
Basic Storage Versus Dynamic Storage in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314343, and,

this MS TechNet article which contains very detailed information re this
issue...
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457110.aspx#EEAA

While there are situations where a HDD should be created as a "dynamic"
disk, it's
a relatively rare situation for most users where this is necessary except in
some RAID configurations. Since I take it you're going to use that secondary
HDD simply as a repository for data (backups & such), there's really no
point in creating it as a dynamic disk.

In Disk Management, simply right-click on the drive (the area where the disk
is shown as "Dynamic") and select the "Convert to Basic Disk" from the
sub-menu that opens. Understand that when you do this, all data on the disk
will be lost - the data will be destroyed. (I'm assuming you have no current
data on that disk, or if you do you can save it to your primary HDD or to
some removable media). The disk will then be reflected as "Unallocated" and
you can again go ahead with partitioning/formatting it in Disk Management,
but ensuring that it's created as a "basic" disk.
Anna