Unwanted 2nd OS

G

Guest

Grandson's Dell Inspiron 1100 experienced problems with OEM Windows XP Home.
Some helpful (?) sole tried to fix problem by installing W2000 which operated
OK. Upon trying to replace W2000, reinstalled from Dell OEM disk the Windows
XP Home operating system. What resulted was a partitioned dual os where
boot-up is followed by query to select preferred operating system.

This is too much for an 11 year old (and also for his grandfather).
Considered re-formatting hard drive (there are no critical files on the
computer), but couldn't get it done.

Query: How can I get back to just the original Dell installed single Windows
XP Home operating system?
thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

The Dell Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Dell Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.

3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.

4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

7. After Windows XP is installed, download Service Pack 2 and install:

Windows XP Service Pack 2 - Direct Download
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

8. After installing Service Pack 2, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]


Note: Before installing Windows XP, you can easily make a "slipstreamed
version" of Windows XP with SP2 already integrated.

Either one of the following utilities makes slipstreaming
(integrating) SP2 into Windows XP a breeze:

Windows Slipstreaming and Bootable CD Guide
http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49

Information on AutoStreamer 1.0
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337&st=0&#entry245

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Grandson's Dell Inspiron 1100 experienced problems with OEM Windows XP Home.
| Some helpful (?) sole tried to fix problem by installing W2000 which operated
| OK. Upon trying to replace W2000, reinstalled from Dell OEM disk the Windows
| XP Home operating system. What resulted was a partitioned dual os where
| boot-up is followed by query to select preferred operating system.
|
| This is too much for an 11 year old (and also for his grandfather).
| Considered re-formatting hard drive (there are no critical files on the
| computer), but couldn't get it done.
|
| Query: How can I get back to just the original Dell installed single Windows
| XP Home operating system?
| thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
| --
| BC
 
G

Guest

Whew! Thanks so much Carey for your detailed response. I will have to print
it out and study it. Then I might get back to you again. I did note that part
ofthe instructions specified "Turn on Windows firewall". Isn't it true that
this would interfere with a local hardwired or wireless network in his home
communicating from his laptop to his parents desk top? I understood that the
Windows firewall could be turned off if connected through a Linksys router
which contains its own firewall.

again, thanks so much for the help.

BC>

Carey Frisch said:
The Dell Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Dell Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.

3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.

4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

7. After Windows XP is installed, download Service Pack 2 and install:

Windows XP Service Pack 2 - Direct Download
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

8. After installing Service Pack 2, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]


Note: Before installing Windows XP, you can easily make a "slipstreamed
version" of Windows XP with SP2 already integrated.

Either one of the following utilities makes slipstreaming
(integrating) SP2 into Windows XP a breeze:

Windows Slipstreaming and Bootable CD Guide
http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49

Information on AutoStreamer 1.0
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337&st=0&#entry245

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Grandson's Dell Inspiron 1100 experienced problems with OEM Windows XP Home.
| Some helpful (?) sole tried to fix problem by installing W2000 which operated
| OK. Upon trying to replace W2000, reinstalled from Dell OEM disk the Windows
| XP Home operating system. What resulted was a partitioned dual os where
| boot-up is followed by query to select preferred operating system.
|
| This is too much for an 11 year old (and also for his grandfather).
| Considered re-formatting hard drive (there are no critical files on the
| computer), but couldn't get it done.
|
| Query: How can I get back to just the original Dell installed single Windows
| XP Home operating system?
| thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
| --
| BC
 

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