Startup problems with XP

[Guest]

I installed Windows XP on my laptop earlier this year, replacing 98SE. For
the most part it's been a success, but I encountered a few problems on the
first installation and had to re-start it. Now when I turn the computer on,
it asks me to "Please Select the Operating System to Start" and it list
"Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" twice.

I suspect (but don't know) that the initial installation is taking up its
fair share of space on my hard drive...I've moved all my folders and most of
my major programs onto an external drive, but I still get warnings about "Low
disk space" on my harddrive.

Is there a way to safely remove the first installation to free up more room?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Please see if the following article by Michael Stevens helps:

"I have two installations of XP on the same partition, how do I remove the
one I don't need?"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#two

 

[Guest]

Thanks Will, but I have one question. Michael says in step 3 that "From
Explorer, delete the folder containing the installation you want to remove.
The original install folder is usually called Windows and subsequent folders
will be derivatives of Windows or Winnt."

I assume this folder is in my c drive, but I don't know which one it is.
Could it be one labeled $WIN_NT$.~BT?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

The $WIN_NT$.~BT folder is from an unfinished installation. So that is the
one if you have a Windows folder on the installation that you want to keep.

 

[Guest]

Thanks a ton for your help Will. I've been procrastinating on this for months
and never imagined it would be solved so quickly!