-----Original Message-----
Hi, Jim? (I can't tell if this is the same person.)
Windows always installs into the "boot folder" on the "boot volume". The
boot volume can be any primary partition or any logical drive in the
extended partition on any physical hard disk in your computer. The boot
folder is always in the Root directory (\) and always named \Windows, by
default, except in WinNT4 and Win2K, when the default name is \WinNT. But
when you upgrade from an earlier Windows, WinXP inherits the name of the
former boot folder. (In my case, I upgraded from Win2K to WinXP, so my
WinXP boot folder is \WinNT.) In the typical dual-boot system, you might
have one in C:\Windows and another in D:\Windows.
If a second Windows is installed into the same volume, the existing folder
name can't be used again, of course, so it will be called \Windows2, or some
such variation. (This is just one of the reasons why we should never
install multiple Windows into a single volume.)
Windows will not let you "saw off the limb it's sitting on" by deleting its
own boot folder. But it will happily delete another Windows installation's
boot folder, which is "just another folder" to the Windows that is running.
So, boot into the one you want to keep (C:\Windows ?) and delete the other
one (C:\WinNT ?). If you get an error message, step back and figure out
why. Deleting that folder - and all its subfolders and files - should free
up at least .5 GB of disk space and maybe 2 GB or more (after you empty the
Recycle Bin).
To remove the now-invalid choice from your opening menu of operating
systems, edit C:\boot.ini. This is a simple text file, but it normally is
hidden, system and read-only. One easy way to edit it is to go to System
Properties | Advanced | Startup and Recovery Settings, and click the Edit
button. Locate the line under [operating systems] that points to the Win2K
boot folder and delete it. Another easy way is to Run msconfig, click the
BOOT.INI tab and click the button to Check All Boot Paths; this should
delete the path to the now-removed Win2K.
Any other questions?
RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
a
simple 2-step where
to find that
.