Two versions of Window XP installed

[Guest]

In trying to solve a screen display problem I have installed Windows XP Home
again without meaning to. Now when I start the computer I am given a choice
of the two versions. This screen appears before the normal welcome screen.
Selection is amde by arrpows and Enter keys.
Selecting the first version leads me to the newly installed XP where I
cannot access my programs. The 2nd version of XP is the one I want to keep,
having all my programs and files.
How do a delete the first version?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

In trying to solve a screen display problem I have installed Windows XP Home
again without meaning to. Now when I start the computer I am given a choice
of the two versions. This screen appears before the normal welcome screen.
Selection is amde by arrpows and Enter keys.
Selecting the first version leads me to the newly installed XP where I
cannot access my programs. The 2nd version of XP is the one I want to keep,
having all my programs and files.
How do a delete the first version?

Try this:
1. Boot into the unwanted version of WinXP.
2. Click Start / Run / cmd {OK}
3. Type this command:
echo %SystemRoot%
4. Make a note of the folder name.
5. Boot into the copy of WinXP you wish to retain.
6. Rename the folder from Step 4 into something like
Windows.NotWanted.
7. Wait a week.
8. If all is well, delete the renamed folder.
9. Make the hidden file c:\boot.ini visible, then create a backup.
10. Click Start / Run / notepad c:\boot.ini.
11. Remove the line with the unwanted version.
12. Save & Exit.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

In trying to solve a screen display problem I have installed
Windows XP Home again without meaning to. Now when I start the
computer I am given a choice of the two versions. This screen
appears before the normal welcome screen. Selection is amde by
arrpows and Enter keys.
Selecting the first version leads me to the newly installed XP
where I cannot access my programs. The 2nd version of XP is the one
I want to keep, having all my programs and files.
How do a delete the first version?

Google 'edit boot.ini'.

 

[Rock]

In trying to solve a screen display problem I have installed Windows XP
Home
again without meaning to. Now when I start the computer I am given a
choice
of the two versions. This screen appears before the normal welcome screen.
Selection is amde by arrpows and Enter keys.
Selecting the first version leads me to the newly installed XP where I
cannot access my programs. The 2nd version of XP is the one I want to
keep,
having all my programs and files.
How do a delete the first version?

"I have two installations of XP on the same partition........"
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#020

 

[Guest]

Try this:
1. Boot into the unwanted version of WinXP.
2. Click Start / Run / cmd {OK}
3. Type this command:
echo %SystemRoot%
4. Make a note of the folder name.
5. Boot into the copy of WinXP you wish to retain.
6. Rename the folder from Step 4 into something like
Windows.NotWanted.
7. Wait a week.
8. If all is well, delete the renamed folder.
9. Make the hidden file c:\boot.ini visible, then create a backup.
10. Click Start / Run / notepad c:\boot.ini.
11. Remove the line with the unwanted version.
12. Save & Exit.

I think a line in the boot.ini should have been changed from
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS.0
to
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

Now I can't get into the computer at all. A message appears
<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll is corrupt or missing.
How can I get back to editing the boot.ini file?

 

[Guest]

"I have two installations of XP on the same partition........"
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#020

Your suggestion and that of Pegasus are similar. But I think another line in
the boot.ini file should have been changed.
My file shows this line
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS.0
and I think it should have been
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

Now I can't get into the computer at all.
A message appears that says
<Windows root>|system32\hal.dll is corrupt or missing.

How do I get back to editing the boot.ini file and at least restoring the
back up file I created?

 

[Ron Sommer]

:
:
: "Rock" wrote:
:
: > > In trying to solve a screen display problem I have installed Windows
XP
: > > Home
: > > again without meaning to. Now when I start the computer I am given a
: > > choice
: > > of the two versions. This screen appears before the normal welcome
screen.
: > > Selection is amde by arrpows and Enter keys.
: > > Selecting the first version leads me to the newly installed XP where I
: > > cannot access my programs. The 2nd version of XP is the one I want to
: > > keep,
: > > having all my programs and files.
: > > How do a delete the first version?
: >
: > "I have two installations of XP on the same partition........"
: > http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#020
: >
: > --
: > Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
: >
: Your suggestion and that of Pegasus are similar. But I think another line
in
: the boot.ini file should have been changed.
: My file shows this line
: default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS.0
: and I think it should have been
: default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
:
: Now I can't get into the computer at all.
: A message appears that says
: <Windows root>|system32\hal.dll is corrupt or missing.
:
: How do I get back to editing the boot.ini file and at least restoring the
: back up file I created?

The hal error is because the foot.ini file has a problem.
You may be looking at a repair install.

 

[Guest]

The hal error is because the foot.ini file has a problem.
You may be looking at a repair install.

Now I'm really confused. I now have 4 versions installed as I had no way to
get back into the computer other than run the install CD again.
I need a way of checking whether changes to boot.ini will work.
Ronald, you mentioned a repair install. If I run that program, will it
remove the extra copies of Windows?
I still feel that changing the boot.ini line to
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
(it now has WINDOWS.2 instead of WINDOWS)
will make a difference but I'm not game to got through the long process of
reinstalling if it doesn't work.

 

[Ron Sommer]

:
:
: "Ron Sommer" wrote:
: > The hal error is because the foot.ini file has a problem.
: > You may be looking at a repair install.

: Now I'm really confused. I now have 4 versions installed as I had no way
to
: get back into the computer other than run the install CD again.
: I need a way of checking whether changes to boot.ini will work.
: Ronald, you mentioned a repair install. If I run that program, will it
: remove the extra copies of Windows?
: I still feel that changing the boot.ini line to
: default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
: (it now has WINDOWS.2 instead of WINDOWS)
: will make a difference but I'm not game to got through the long process of
: reinstalling if it doesn't work.

A Repair install could have gotten you booting after the hal.dll error.
A Repair install is not going to remove the extra copies.
WINDOWS.2 is now your current Windows folder.
The only way to change to Windows folder is to wipe the drive and reinstall
XP.

Changing the default line will not work, because the Registry has everything
pointing to Windows.2.
You can follow the directions for removing the extra Windows folders.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#020

After you remove the extra Windows folders, remove the references in the
boot.ini by Start, Run, msconfig, Boot.ini tab, Check all boot paths.
Actually, check the boot paths in the boot.ini file before removing the
extra Windows folders.