Uninstalling a duplicate version of Windows 2000

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G

Guest

Hello

I recently upgraded my BIOS with mixed results and had to sort through a small mess by myself (tech support for the company was not terribly helpful or competent). As a result I had to reinstall Windows 2000. The issue is that the first time I did it, I chose the upgrade option (after several attempts at repairing the prime installation which failed). It does work but takes up space (prime installation was very corrupt I think). I then chose a clean install just for peace of mind and to clean house, and thus, computer functional and reasonably stable.

So, is there any safe, reasonably easy way to rid my computer of the duplicate Windows 2000 installation? I would appreciate some input.

Thanks

~G~
 
Same or separate partitions?

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]

whitehawk66 said:
Hello

I recently upgraded my BIOS with mixed results and had to sort through a
Click to expand...
small mess by myself (tech support for the company was not terribly helpful
or competent). As a result I had to reinstall Windows 2000. The issue is
that the first time I did it, I chose the upgrade option (after several
attempts at repairing the prime installation which failed). It does work
but takes up space (prime installation was very corrupt I think). I then
chose a clean install just for peace of mind and to clean house, and thus,
computer functional and reasonably stable.
So, is there any safe, reasonably easy way to rid my computer of the
Click to expand...
duplicate Windows 2000 installation? I would appreciate some input.
 
Hi Dave:

same partition (none) on the master drive (slave drive is partitioned but serves as storage).

Thank you

~G~
 
There wont be a clean break as the operating systems would share some files/
directories when installed to the same partition. Best to blow it all away
and start a new install.

By default Windows 2000 installs in the \winnt directory. First Control
Panel|System|Advanced|Startup and Recovery, choose the correct System
Startup option as default, then you'll need to delete the options you want
removed from the boot.ini, it's a system, hidden file in the root of the
system partition. So you'll need to show-all-files, hidden, system in
Explorer. You should end up with something like this (below). The timeout
value is not functional when there is only one startup choice. Then you can
remove the %windir% directory that your currently not using from drive. By
default Windows 2000 installs into the \winnt directory and this is the
%windir% From a command prompt
echo %windir%
will reveal the one your using (possibly \winnt2), then you can delete the
other one not in use. To be sure you can rename it, then later delete it.

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
 
Hi Dave

Yes, found the following

[boot loader
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINN
[operating systems
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetec
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetec

So, clearly the first item is what I want and the second item needs to disappear. Forgive my pedestrian but better than average understanding of such things but simply deleting the second item in "Windows" directory from the boot.ini file will not make all the "stuff" disappear but simply remove the item from the os choices upon booting up? That would be a good thing but a magic wand to make extra stuff go away would be better than clean installing again ;

And yes, it was originally an upgrade from Win98SE :

Thanks. please confirm

~G~
 
You didn't read far enough. :) Delete the %windir% aka \windows directory if
not in use.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]

Whitehawk66 said:
Hi Dave:

Yes, found the following:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

So, clearly the first item is what I want and the second item needs to
Click to expand...
disappear. Forgive my pedestrian but better than average understanding of
such things but simply deleting the second item in "Windows" directory from
the boot.ini file will not make all the "stuff" disappear but simply remove
the item from the os choices upon booting up? That would be a good thing
but a magic wand to make extra stuff go away would be better than clean
installing again ;)
 
Oki doki

Now I understand (Ithink)...deleted some stuff :) we'll see if machine explodes upon reboot

Or if I can get back online to send a thank you..

:

~G~
 
Holy crap!

I gained back about 2gb worth of space going throug item by item to find reduncancies and obsoletes!!!

Thank you Dave for your assistance and diligence, and the opportunity for me to learn something :)

Best Regards,

~G~

onto fixing other quirks courtesy of this bios upgrade...
 
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