Two versions of Windows XP at start up

When my laptop starts I have two versions of Windows XP Pro - one is an incomplete installation which has problems installing correctly and the second one is the working copy.

How can I delete the incomplete version or at least have the working one selected instead of the first one all the time - in which case I have to restart and make sure I select the second one quickly.

Thank you.

 

Hi Ann!

To do that with the least amount of risk, I need to see a copy of your boot.ini file. It's a hidden file located on the root of the C: drive.

Open Windows Explorer > Tools > Folder Options > View >

Check "Show hidden files and folders "

Uncheck "Hide file extensions for known file types and Hide protected operation system files "

OK out of there.

Then go to the c: drive root and double click on the boot.ini file. Copy/paste the text it reveals back here in your next post.

It sounds like the default system is the one with the problem so we need to edit the boot.ini file to change the default selection. Then we can delete the files associated with the corrupt system but we need to determine its location to ensure that we do not leave the desired system "orphaned" from its bootloader files. We can do that based on the boot.ini information you post.

 

Hi SD,

Have you seen this thread?

http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=62251

Regards - Charles

 

I have now.

We'll just have to see where this leads since it appears that Win2k is no longer the issue. In any case, the boot.ini contents will tell the tale.

Thanks.

 

surferdude2 / Charlesvar,

I'm not at home at the moment so I can't check but will get this information for you tonight and post it.

I have found a way around it by going into Computer Management and changing the default start-up to the working copy of Windows XP and changing the timing to 0 so it starts without asking me to choose but I would like to delete the copy that I don't need.

Thank you both so much for helping. I have no idea what I am doing but just reading up and doing things to make it work.

Thanks again - Later.

 

Surferdude2 / Charlesvar,

Here is a copy of my boot.ini file:

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

I should explain that the reason I tried to re-load Windows XP Professional is because my first install (the one that actual works now) has an invalid product ID which is preventing me from downloading SP2 and someother software that I want.

I finally found my CD which the correct product ID so I thought I would just reinstall it and everything would be fine. I guess nothing is that easy. Anyway like I said previous I have found a way to work around it but I would like to clean it all up and install the proper CD with the correct product ID number.

Thank you and help you can give would really help.

 

Rename the folder titled "Windows" to OldWindows. Reboot for effect. If you boot without incident, you can delete the renamed folder.

When you get the files deleted, edit your boot.ini file to remove the line:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

Post back if you have any further difficulties. The only possibility of a problem would be due to a user file cross up between the two installs. If that occurs you can create new users and dump the old ones.

If some other cross corruption is causing problems, I recommend saving your personal data files to separate media, deleting all files from the disk and doing a clean install. I hope it doesn't come to that so keep your fingers crossed and not your files.

 

Surferdude2 - if I do this will I be able to reboot??? Will it prevent me from starting Windows? I'm just so afraid of that since I have no idea what to do if that happens.

 

I'm not allowed to give a guarantee Anne. However, any advice you get on a forum such as this has usually been reviewed by several techs and any blatant errors will normally be exposed.

That said, I do see some real dangerous advice being dispensed at times that slips through the cracks. That probably explains how some threads never get resolved - the party with the problem can't get connected to report the failure.

You are wise to question any advice that could put you in a position from which you don't think you would be able to recover.

In this present case, you should protect yourself by getting familiar with the Recovery Console. With it you can edit the boot.ini file and reverse any changes you make that cause problems.

Do you know how to invoke the Recovery Console? Have you ever used it before? This would be an excellent time to learn so that you can have less fear and more confidence. Those who choose not to learn things like that are known as "Customers" to the tech shops.

If you don't choose to use the RC, as an alternate method you can construct either a boot floppy or a boot CD that contains all of the necessary files to boot your system when the boot.ini file is corrupt. If you need more help implementing either of those options, post back and let me know if you have a floppy drive. If no floppy, do you have a CD burner and software that will accept an ISO file? The native XP software won't do that so you would need to download a MS approved IsoRecorder that is freely offered.

So, Recovery Console, boot disk, or just wing it. Take your choice or take your chance. BTW, data backups to a separate media are always a great idea while you can still access the drive.

Lastly, it's always nice to have access to another computer to get back on the internet in case something untoward happens. Do you have that possibility?

I don't feel that you will be in any danger following my advice but I can't be at your keyboard so all bets are off. Since you listed your experience level at "Intermediate" I gave you information based on that level. I would not advise a beginner to do this unless they had supervision by a knowledgeable person that could bail them out. Do you have such a guru available in case Murphy makes an appearance?

Consider those points and post back how you would like to proceed.

 

Surferdude2,

Thank you so much for all your advise and help. I hope you didn't think I was questioning your ability - definitely not - it's mine that I have a problem with. I love computers and am "intermediate" in the sense that I love to play with them and in a lot of cases I am more knowledgeable than a true beginner but of course I am very apprehensive too.

I think I will look into your Recovery Console suggestion and read up more on it and find out how that works. It seems that is a very good option and good to know.

The idea of a boot-up disk is also good and I may also do that as an added measure - better to be safe than sorry. On my laptop I do not have a CD burner but I do have a floppy disk. How do I go about making a boot-up disk? I'm sure I can also search for this and it's somewhere but I figured if it's not too much to write than it would be easier and I can research the Recovery Console method.

Again thank you so much for all your help - it is very much appreciated and I do trust your advise and opinion.

 

I understand your position and I think it's good to move with caution into strange territory. The deep water isn't the place to learn how to swim.

Making the boot floppy is very simple. Just download that executable file from the link I posted above to your Desktop or anywhere else you prefer. Then Double click on it and follow the screen directions. It will ask you to supply a blank floppy on which to write the necessary files. When it finishes leave that floppy in the drive and reboot to test it. It will present you with six options for booting any of three drives and either of two partitions on each of them. In your case, select the first system listed, which will be the first drive and the first partition. That's where XP is usually installed on a single drive system. Press enter and it should boot you right into a Windows session.

After proving the disk works to your satisfaction, label it and put it away in hopes of never needing it. Write protect it if you want to be doubly safe from any risk on a boot sector virus. Just remember where you put it though. It's one of those things that's nice to have when you need it. It actually can boot your system when the MBR or IPL code is damaged or the bootloader files are missing completely. It contains copies of all those so it doesn't rely on the ones on your HD.

If you have any problem downloading or using that file, let me know.

All the best

edit: Here's a good listing of the Recovery Console Commands and how they work. The bootcfg /rebuild would be the one you would use for your present repair. As noted there, run bootcfg /copy first to make a copy before editing. Safety first.

While you're at it, make a floppy for editing the boot.ini file without having to invoke the Recovery Console. Get BootIniEdit and do it the same way as that other boot floppy. Test it by boot with it in the drive and you will see a list of all the NTFS drives detected. Select one (in your case, the only one) and press enter. That will open the boot.ini file for editing. Voila, much easier than the RC method! Now you can edit the boot.ini file without fear of being shut out of the system.