G
Guest
My computer was set up to Dual boot so I went to the Boot.INI file and deleated the second boot option. Now I want to go to the %systemRoot%\windows folder to delete files but I cannot find it.
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Emmers Presson [MSFT]
Hi,
What operating system are you trying to delete? Windows 2000 defaults to
\winnt from the root of the drive (e.g. "c:\winnt") and Windows 9x usually
default to the \windows folders off the root of the drive. Are both
installations on the same partition (e.g. c:\) or are they on separate
partitions (e.g. c:\ and D:\)? Also, what operating system do you want to
keep? What is the path where is is located?
--
Emmers Presson [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
%systemRoot%\windows folder to delete files but I cannot find it.
What operating system are you trying to delete? Windows 2000 defaults to
\winnt from the root of the drive (e.g. "c:\winnt") and Windows 9x usually
default to the \windows folders off the root of the drive. Are both
installations on the same partition (e.g. c:\) or are they on separate
partitions (e.g. c:\ and D:\)? Also, what operating system do you want to
keep? What is the path where is is located?
--
Emmers Presson [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
deleated the second boot option. Now I want to go to theTJ said:My computer was set up to Dual boot so I went to the Boot.INI file and
%systemRoot%\windows folder to delete files but I cannot find it.
G
Guest
I am running windows 2000. I did a Fresh copy installation of 2000 over Windows 98. I had to re-install the operating system a couple of times before I got it to work. Now when my computer would start up it would want to dual boot. Thats when I went to the boot.ini file and deleted one of the window 2000 options. Now I want to delete the previous operating system that I don't need but do not know for sure how to do it. I did not partition my drive. Everything is on the C: drive. I want to keep windows 2000 operating system.
R
R. C. White
Hi, TJ.
Open a "DOS" window. Type: Set
You should see a list of all the environment variables, listed
alphabetically. Find SystemRoot.
RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
before I got it to work. Now when my computer would start up it would want
to dual boot. Thats when I went to the boot.ini file and deleted one of the
window 2000 options. Now I want to delete the previous operating system
that I don't need but do not know for sure how to do it. I did not
partition my drive. Everything is on the C: drive. I want to keep windows
2000 operating system.
Open a "DOS" window. Type: Set
You should see a list of all the environment variables, listed
alphabetically. Find SystemRoot.
RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows 98. I had to re-install the operating system a couple of timesTJ said:I am running windows 2000. I did a Fresh copy installation of 2000 over
before I got it to work. Now when my computer would start up it would want
to dual boot. Thats when I went to the boot.ini file and deleted one of the
window 2000 options. Now I want to delete the previous operating system
that I don't need but do not know for sure how to do it. I did not
partition my drive. Everything is on the C: drive. I want to keep windows
2000 operating system.
G
Guest
I opened the Dos window and found the root is C:\ winnt. I did not see the %systemroot%windows. Should I find it there if it exists? It seems like I should have another operating system on this computer because the C drive has used about 14GB out of 18GB. Thanks.
R
R. C. White
Hi, TJ.
In the "DOS" window, did you type SET?
Just the one word, "set", then press the Enter key. You should see a
listing a couple of dozen lines long. Look down the list until you find
SystemRoot. Mine says, "SystemRoot=D:\WINNT".
You are not likely to find a folder named "%SystemRoot%\Windows". On my
system, for example, that would be like "D:\Winnt\Windows". %SystemRoot% is
a variable that holds the name of the Windows boot folder; it is always a
top-level folder in the Root. In other words, always something like
C:\Windows, never C:\Anything\Windows. You may be looking for a folder that
does not exist.
One way to find that folder if it exists at all is to use brute force. In a
"DOS" window, type: dir c:\windows /s/a/p
This uses the old faithful DIR command with some extra switches. (Type Dir
/? to see all the switches available with the command.) The C:\ assures
that the directory listing starts in the Root of C:, and "windows" searches
only for that exact spelling of the name (so that you won't see "winnt").
The /s switch looks in all subdirectories under the starting folder; since
we are starting in C:\, this finds EVERYTHING on the drive. The /a switch
shows us ALL files, no matter which attributes (hidden, system, read-only)
may or may not be set. And the /p pauses after each screen of files; there
probably won't be more than one, but this is just in case. This may take a
few minutes, but if it says "File Not Found", then you can be sure that
there is no file or folder named "windows" ANYWHERE on your computer. There
is no "windows" anywhere in my \WinNT folder.
As you probably know by now, Microsoft - and nearly everybody else -
STRONGLY recommends that you DO NOT install multiple versions of Windows
into a single volume, such as Drive C:.
RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
should have another operating system on this computer because the C drive
has used about 14GB out of 18GB. Thanks.
In the "DOS" window, did you type SET?
Just the one word, "set", then press the Enter key. You should see a
listing a couple of dozen lines long. Look down the list until you find
SystemRoot. Mine says, "SystemRoot=D:\WINNT".
You are not likely to find a folder named "%SystemRoot%\Windows". On my
system, for example, that would be like "D:\Winnt\Windows". %SystemRoot% is
a variable that holds the name of the Windows boot folder; it is always a
top-level folder in the Root. In other words, always something like
C:\Windows, never C:\Anything\Windows. You may be looking for a folder that
does not exist.
One way to find that folder if it exists at all is to use brute force. In a
"DOS" window, type: dir c:\windows /s/a/p
This uses the old faithful DIR command with some extra switches. (Type Dir
/? to see all the switches available with the command.) The C:\ assures
that the directory listing starts in the Root of C:, and "windows" searches
only for that exact spelling of the name (so that you won't see "winnt").
The /s switch looks in all subdirectories under the starting folder; since
we are starting in C:\, this finds EVERYTHING on the drive. The /a switch
shows us ALL files, no matter which attributes (hidden, system, read-only)
may or may not be set. And the /p pauses after each screen of files; there
probably won't be more than one, but this is just in case. This may take a
few minutes, but if it says "File Not Found", then you can be sure that
there is no file or folder named "windows" ANYWHERE on your computer. There
is no "windows" anywhere in my \WinNT folder.
As you probably know by now, Microsoft - and nearly everybody else -
STRONGLY recommends that you DO NOT install multiple versions of Windows
into a single volume, such as Drive C:.
RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
%systemroot%windows. Should I find it there if it exists? It seems like ITJ said:I opened the Dos window and found the root is C:\ winnt. I did not see the
should have another operating system on this computer because the C drive
has used about 14GB out of 18GB. Thanks.
E
Emmers Presson [MSFT]
Well, we're still at the same place if we do not know the folder where
Windows 2000 and Windows 98 are installed.
Click Start/Run and type "winmsd" (without the quotes) and click OK. This
will start System Information. Look in the right pane for "Windows Directory
and the value there will at least confirm where Windows 2000 is installed.
DO NOT delete that folder.
Assuming you took the defaults, Windows 98 should be installed into
c:\windows and you can delete that folder (unless it is the same as the
Windows 2000 folder as found above.
Please review the following article for more information:
285480 How to Remove Windows 98 When It Is Part of a Dual Boot with Windows
2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=285480
--
Emmers Presson [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
before I got it to work. Now when my computer would start up it would want
to dual boot. Thats when I went to the boot.ini file and deleted one of the
window 2000 options. Now I want to delete the previous operating system
that I don't need but do not know for sure how to do it. I did not
partition my drive. Everything is on the C: drive. I want to keep windows
2000 operating system.
Windows 2000 and Windows 98 are installed.
Click Start/Run and type "winmsd" (without the quotes) and click OK. This
will start System Information. Look in the right pane for "Windows Directory
and the value there will at least confirm where Windows 2000 is installed.
DO NOT delete that folder.
Assuming you took the defaults, Windows 98 should be installed into
c:\windows and you can delete that folder (unless it is the same as the
Windows 2000 folder as found above.
Please review the following article for more information:
285480 How to Remove Windows 98 When It Is Part of a Dual Boot with Windows
2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=285480
--
Emmers Presson [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Windows 98. I had to re-install the operating system a couple of timesTJ said:I am running windows 2000. I did a Fresh copy installation of 2000 over
before I got it to work. Now when my computer would start up it would want
to dual boot. Thats when I went to the boot.ini file and deleted one of the
window 2000 options. Now I want to delete the previous operating system
that I don't need but do not know for sure how to do it. I did not
partition my drive. Everything is on the C: drive. I want to keep windows
2000 operating system.
G
Guest
According to the winmsd the windows directory is C:\WINNT. So with that where do I go to delete the C:windows folder. Explore? Thanks,Tommy
G
Guest
I did the dir c:\windows /s/a/p and found pages of C:\Windows. How do I determine which folders to delete?
Thanks,
Tommy
Thanks,
Tommy
R
R. C. White
Hi, Tommy.
All of them!
Windows won't let you delete its own boot folder. So, if you try to delete
C:\WinNT, it will refuse, because that is the folder that Win2K is using.
But if you tell it to delete C:\Windows (the Windows 98 boot folder), it
will gleefully wipe it out - subfolders, files and all! Yes, there should
be many pages of files, subfolders and more files there - all of the Win98
operating system, plus its Registry files, drivers, and everything else that
made Win98 run on your computer. My own long-retired, archived copy of my
last Win98 \Windows folder has about 700 MB in over 6,000 files in over 900
subdirectories listed. :>(
To be safe, let all that deleted stuff stay in your Recycle Bin for a few
days, just to be sure that nothing complains about missing files. Run every
program that you can think of to be sure you're not overlooking one. Then
empty the Recycle Bin to finally reclaim the wasted disk space.
RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
All of them!
Windows won't let you delete its own boot folder. So, if you try to delete
C:\WinNT, it will refuse, because that is the folder that Win2K is using.
But if you tell it to delete C:\Windows (the Windows 98 boot folder), it
will gleefully wipe it out - subfolders, files and all! Yes, there should
be many pages of files, subfolders and more files there - all of the Win98
operating system, plus its Registry files, drivers, and everything else that
made Win98 run on your computer. My own long-retired, archived copy of my
last Win98 \Windows folder has about 700 MB in over 6,000 files in over 900
subdirectories listed. :>(
To be safe, let all that deleted stuff stay in your Recycle Bin for a few
days, just to be sure that nothing complains about missing files. Run every
program that you can think of to be sure you're not overlooking one. Then
empty the Recycle Bin to finally reclaim the wasted disk space.
RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
determine which folders to delete?TJ said:I did the dir c:\windows /s/a/p and found pages of C:\Windows. How do I
G
Guest
RC
Thanks very much for your help. I will start deleting what I think is C:Windows files. Is there a sure way to determine which files I can or should delete? Or just start deleting what I think it is and if it lets me put it in the recycle bin and see what happens
Thanks
Tommy
Thanks very much for your help. I will start deleting what I think is C:Windows files. Is there a sure way to determine which files I can or should delete? Or just start deleting what I think it is and if it lets me put it in the recycle bin and see what happens
Thanks
Tommy
R
R. C. White
Hi, Tommy.
No need to be selective. Just delete the entire C:\Windows folder!
There should be hundreds (thousands?) of files with very familiar names, but
they are the Win98 versions and you don't want them scrambled in with your
Win2K versions. :>( You will never need these again, but you have them on
the original Win98 CD-ROM anyhow, don't you? Did you read KB article
285480, which Emmers Presson, from Microsoft, pointed out to you?
If you are worried, backup that entire C:\Windows folder to CD-RW or a
different HD or somewhere, then bulldoze the entire folder. One way to wipe
it out is to open a "DOS" window and type at the C:\ prompt: rd C:\windows
/s This will bring up an "are you sure?" message; tell it yes. But I
think this method bypasses your Recycle Bin, so you might want that backup
if you use this method.
Then post back to let us all know the results. In a newsgroup (or
Discussion Group) we all learn from each other. Now it's your turn to teach
the next guy on this learning curve. ;<)
RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
should delete? Or just start deleting what I think it is and if it lets me
put it in the recycle bin and see what happens?
No need to be selective. Just delete the entire C:\Windows folder!
There should be hundreds (thousands?) of files with very familiar names, but
they are the Win98 versions and you don't want them scrambled in with your
Win2K versions. :>( You will never need these again, but you have them on
the original Win98 CD-ROM anyhow, don't you? Did you read KB article
285480, which Emmers Presson, from Microsoft, pointed out to you?
If you are worried, backup that entire C:\Windows folder to CD-RW or a
different HD or somewhere, then bulldoze the entire folder. One way to wipe
it out is to open a "DOS" window and type at the C:\ prompt: rd C:\windows
/s This will bring up an "are you sure?" message; tell it yes. But I
think this method bypasses your Recycle Bin, so you might want that backup
if you use this method.
Then post back to let us all know the results. In a newsgroup (or
Discussion Group) we all learn from each other. Now it's your turn to teach
the next guy on this learning curve. ;<)
RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
C:Windows files. Is there a sure way to determine which files I can orTJ said:RC,
Thanks very much for your help. I will start deleting what I think is
should delete? Or just start deleting what I think it is and if it lets me
put it in the recycle bin and see what happens?
G
Guest
RC,
Thanks very much for your help. I did read the article and I was still alittle confused. I did delete the C:\Windows folder but it is ony 1.4GB. I know there is much more than that somewhere. When I look at Program files there is 6GB of data there. I am going to take your advice and back-up the Windows folder and go to a Dos prompt and delete all C:\Windows and see what happens. Thanks again.
Tommy
Thanks very much for your help. I did read the article and I was still alittle confused. I did delete the C:\Windows folder but it is ony 1.4GB. I know there is much more than that somewhere. When I look at Program files there is 6GB of data there. I am going to take your advice and back-up the Windows folder and go to a Dos prompt and delete all C:\Windows and see what happens. Thanks again.
Tommy
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