Removing Window 98 from an extended partition. Running Window XP

[Fred]

I have a hardrive that has a primary and extended
partition. The primary has windows 98
and the extended, window xp. I want to remove window 98
and the partition but I can't find anything on the
internet on how to do this without causing any problems.
So far, my understanding is that "c" drive contains three
essential files that window xp uses when it boots up in
window xp. I have configured the computer to do a dual
boot but for many months now, I have gone straight to
booting in window xp. I don't want to remove the "c"
partition without knowing I might delete the bootfiles
and find out that window xp does not want to boot up.
The three files that some reference indicate are:
boot.ini, ntldr and ntdetect.com. However, I don't see
them
on the "c" drive (even if I enabled see hidden files).
Any help will be
appreciated.

 

[aragorn]

right...the boot file is always stored on the c drive, so
if you just format..winXP won't probably start anymore.
I would format both drives and make a fresh install of XP
only and use the d drive for storage and backups.
You could move all personal files from c to d drive and
then format c...now restart with the XP CD and install XP
on C...after that move all personal files from D to C and
format D drive. Even better would be if you move all your
files to a CD if you have a burner and then make the clean
install. But maybe someone knows a better way.

 

[Ross Durie]

They are protected operating system files. Go Tools/Folder
Options/View/Clear the tick in "Hide protected ..."

 

[Guest]

I do not want to remove the xp since I have loaded tons
of programs. I don't want to go through all the trouble,
especially with changing the settings for some programs i
have..thx.

 

[Tumbleweed]

Well, then you'll be making backups anyway right since you wont want to lose
all those settings in case of problems?
So, change your method of backupsto use a drive imaging program such as
Drive Image or Norton Ghost (or possibly BootitNG which you might be able to
download on a 30 day trial...havent used it but it gets recommended here a
lot)

Image your D drive to a file on D or another partition, but not on C, (and
also onto a DVD if you can just to be safe). Then create some rescue
diskettes using the app, boot from those and restore the image on the D
partition to the C, overwriting it. This will definitely work for NG as i've
done it a few times, pretty sure it would work for the others but I havent
used them.

 

[Ron Sommer]

XP can not be moved from D: to C:.
There are references in the Registry that say XP is installed on D:.

 

[Ron Sommer]

XP can not be moved from D: to C:.
There are references in the Registry that say XP is installed on D:.

There is another setting under Folder Options, View, Hide protected system
operating files.
Uncheck the setting and answer yes to the warning.

Delete all of the Win 98 files from C:.
Leave the three XP boot files.
You can edit out the dual boot from boot.ini, but it is not necessary.

 

[Tumbleweed]

OK thanks thats good to know. IIRC Partition Manager gives you an option to
change those references (I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure I saw that
option somewhere in it)

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have a hardrive that has a primary and extended
partition. The primary has windows 98
and the extended, window xp. I want to remove window 98
and the partition but I can't find anything on the
internet on how to do this without causing any problems.

You *must* retain a primary partition for the initial boot - BIOS and
the master boot code will *not* boot from an extended partition's
logical drives. And you will have a dual boot here. where the initial
boot is set in the primary C:, passing the buck to the XP in D (or
whatever). It is also not practical to change that lettering.

Two course are possible:

Start over, formatting and installing XP clean in the C partition (or a
new one of different size made to replace it)

Keep things as they are, retaining the initial boot files, ntldr,
ntdetect.com and boot.ini in C:. and deleting everything else, also
editing the boot.ini to remove the reference for the Windows 98 in C: