Iggy said:
Hi Guys, thanks for the help. I found this with My
Computer->Properties->Advanced->StartUp and Recovery Settings->Edit.
My Boot.ini file reads:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin
I would like to delete the default windows, and make the second
installation
listed above the default...if that makes sense. How should I change the
file
above to do this? I think I get it, but expert guidance would be welcome.
Thanks you again for your help.
Iggy
--
Yes, well it certainly thinks there's two installations but before we go
willy nilly changing things we better verify it's 'right' and get a handle
on how it got this way.
It says you have two drives. Correct? Your current default is on rdisk 1
and the second, I presume 'new', installation is on rdisk 0
Judging from the switches, the 'new' one appears to be on Service Pack 2
but the other is not.
When did the second one appear and what did you do that caused it?
Also, where are your program files? Which hard drive and which
installation do they appear in (in the Start Menu)?
A first test would be to remove the hard drive with the default
installation on it and then boot, by selecting the second, the second
installation and verify it all works with just that one drive and has the
programs you expect. (I suspect it's either not going to boot, or your
programs won't be there, or some other problem)
If that actually did work, you'd modify boot.ini to read:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin
(changing the default from rdisk(1) to rdisk(0) and removing the rdisk(1)
entry from the "operating systems" list)
A 'safer' mod, with a bit of 'insurance' to make sure you *really* don't
need that second hard drive, would be to change the default only (I.E.
just change the 1 to 0 in rdisk() for the default) so you could still
select the other one if needed.
That would look like
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect /noexecute=optin
Your default would then be installation '2' but you could select '1' if
need be.
'Plain' boot.ini for Windows XP SP2, except I have changed the timeout
from
30 to 15 seconds.
[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
Note that last line (showing as 2) is wrapped here but not in boot.ini
He can tell if he really has 'two' installations by noting the system
folder in the disk boot lines under "operating systems". Mine, the only
one, is \Windows. If he has two installations it will not be the the same
folder in both entries. If it is the same folder then there is either
some
difference in the 'options' (/ key switches) or the 'second' one got
installed on top of (replacing) the first.
The "default" line is just what it says: the 'one' that will be booted if
the user does not make an alternate selection before the timeout period
expires.
/NoExecute=OptIn is for the DEP feature in service pack 2.
